While some states have initiated tighter controls on guns following concerns of violence throughout the country, Kentucky gun laws have gone in the opposite direction. Many residents seem to agree with actions taken by state legislators.
People can openly carry firearms in many places, except in schools, jail facilities, colleges and universities. Private businesses and courtrooms may prohibit the carrying of guns. Cities can prohibit concealed firearms,
but openly carrying firearms is allowed in many city facilities, such as parks, zoos, and even city halls. State legislators want to clarify that the state regulates firearms and avoid differences with local bans and restrictions.
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State lawmakers have eased restrictions on carrying concealed weapons. Residents can carry concealed weapons without a license in their businesses, on their own property, or within the property owned by relatives. Officials have made it easier to apply for carry permits electronically. Victims of domestic violence can receive temporary carry permits for 45 days without going through firearms safety training. Loaded and unloaded weapons aren’t considered concealed when placed in vehicle compartments or side pockets.
The easing of Kentucky gun laws has led to a dramatic increase in carry permits by Kentuckians. The number of permits jumped from 11,000 in 2004 to 60,000 in 2013 as many residents became safety conscious due to the rise in crime and violence,
The Cincinnati Enquirer notes. The number of permits doubled in the year following the elementary school shooting in Newton, Connecticut, in which six adults and 20 students were killed.
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Tony Wheatley, who operates a concealed-carry class in Louisville, said the number of people enrolling in the class in the three months following the Newton incident equaled the number of students in the entire previous year. Many of the enrollees included schoolteachers and administrators.
Although Kentucky has its gun-control advocates, state legislators follow the views of many residents concerned about their constitutional rights, according to state Rep. Diane St. Onge, a Republican. St. Onge introduced a bill for the 2015 session that would restrict the federal government from imposing gun laws on the state. Legislators who favor protecting Kentucky gun laws believe they are following the inclination of many constituents.
This article does not constitute legal advice. Check the current gun laws before purchasing or traveling with a firearm.
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