Kentucky’s Permit-Free Concealed Carry Law Goes Into Effect

Kentuckians can officially conceal carry their guns without obtaining a permit as of Thursday.

The law allows people to carry a gun inside a pocket or a purse without a permit if they are 21 and have obtained the gun legally, having passed the requisite background checks, WLWT reported.

“Law-abiding citizens who are authorized to carry a firearm should not have to ask permission from the government or pay a recurrent fee in order to exercise their Second Amendment right,” Republican state representative Savannah Maddox, one of the bill’s sponsors, said.

The new law, which was signed by Republican Gov. Matt Bevin in March, removes the previous concealed carry requirements, which included a six hour gun-safety course, background check and $60 application fee, according to the Louisville Courier Journal.

Those with felony convictions are still barred from owning guns, but the new law eliminated the exclusion for those convicted of alcohol or drug misdemeanors or who owed more than one year of child support.

Kentucky residents must continue to abide by existing state law that bars them from carrying guns into police stations, sheriff offices, jails or courthouses. Not can they carry guns into federally-owned buildings or buildings that house federal offices.

Additionally, residents cannot bring guns onto private property if owners have posted a sign banning guns.

14 other states have eliminated conceal carry permit requirements.