By: Teresa Mull
The Kentucky Senate passed a Constitutional Carry bill hours ago.
WBKO reported yesterday:
The summary of Senate Bill 150 says the objective is to "create a new section of Chapter 237 to allow concealed deadly weapons to be carried by persons age 21 and over without a license in the same locations where concealed carry license holders may carry them."
Currently, Kentuckians have to have a permit to carry concealed, which is given by their local sheriff’s office after they have taken and passed a class.
SB 150 must be approved by the Kentucky House before it is sent to Gov. Matt Bevin (R) to sign.
Brenden Boudreau, Director of Field Operations at the National Association for Gun Rights (NAGR), says he’s confident Bevin will make Constitutional Carry the law of the land.
“NAGR staff delivered nearly 6,000 petitions in support of Constitutional Carry to the Kentucky Senate just hours before the bill overwhelmingly passed with bipartisan support,” Boudreau told Gunpowder Magazine. “One more stop in the House before it goes to the desk of Gov. Bevin, who has told NAGR staff that he will sign it into law. This is great news for the Bluegrass State. Pro-gun Kentuckians need to stay involved to make sure lawmakers get the clear message that they want true Constitutional Carry and nothing less.”
Oklahoma is also on the verge of adopting Constitutional Carry, and South Dakota did so late last month.
“Constitutional Carry leads to safer neighborhoods, compared to the rest of the nation,” said Dudley Brown, president NAGR.
Three of the four safest states in the U.S. — Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire — honor Constitutional Carry. Kentucky would join 13 others — Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming — as Constitutional Carry States.
Teresa Mull is editor of Gunpowder Magazine. Contact her at [email protected].