According to federal law, you can take your firearms
when traveling through states as long as they are unloaded and properly cased. Kentucky gun laws are lenient, so visitors can carry firearms without a permit. The Bluegrass State also recognizes handgun carry permits in most states.
Visitors must abide by the same state laws residents do.
Kentucky requires no permit for licensing or to buy rifles, shotguns, or handguns. Permits are required for carrying concealed weapons,
but easygoing laws allow people to travel with their weapons in their vehicles. For example, the state does not consider firearms concealed if they are placed in vehicle compartments, consoles, or seat pockets, even if the weapon is loaded. However, firearms on the person or placed under the driver’s seat are considered concealed.
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If Kentucky visitors are interested in becoming residents or staying for a while, the state has eliminated its six-month residency requirement to apply for a carry permit. The lenient laws allow people to carry concealed weapons without a license on their own property or property owned by a relative with permission from the owner. Honorably discharged veterans can apply for licenses without undergoing normally required firearms training.
Kentucky has long been a popular state for hunting and outdoor activities, so it remains sporting-friendly to visitors, as long as they obtain licenses needed for hunting or fishing. Kentucky gun laws even allow openly
carrying firearms in city-owned facilities, such as parks and zoos. Legislation has given control of lenient laws to the state without local governments regulating firearms.
Regulations continue on forbidding carrying concealed firearms in such places as police stations, local government meetings, school facilities, or bars. Certain restrictions are allowed under private property laws or jurisdictions. For example, private businesses, colleges, and universities can prohibit guns on their property, and judicial branches govern carrying in court buildings. However, Kentucky gun laws are becoming even more protective for gun owners.
Proposed state legislation in 2015 includes preventing the federal government from restricting firearms in the state as a proactive measure.
This article does not constitute legal advice. Check the current gun laws before purchasing or traveling with a firearm.
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