Graphic by Owensboro Times

A bill that seeks to lower the age to carry concealed deadly weapons in Kentucky to 18 advanced out of a Senate committee Thursday. 

Sponsored by Sen. Aaron Reed, R-Shelbyville, Senate Bill 75 would lower the age requirement from 21 to 18. He said the bill is about fairness, constitutional rights, and the ability of young adults to protect themselves just like any other law-abiding citizen. 

“At 18 years old, a Kentuckian is legally an adult. They can vote. They can sign contracts. They can marry. They can be tried as an adult in court, and most importantly, they can serve in the United States military,” Reed said. 

Reed said the current age requirement is an “unjust double standard, one that must be corrected.” 

Some people may argue that lowering the conceal carry age would make it easier for kids to get guns, but the bill doesn’t change who can legally purchase a firearm, Reed said. 

“Federal law still applies. Background checks still apply. Nothing in this bill weakens or changes our existing gun purchasing laws. It simply ensures that those who are already legally allowed to own a firearm are given the same rights to carry it responsibly, just as they would at 21,” he said. 

Reed testified that in January, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled it’s unconstitutional to deny 18- to 20-year-olds the right to purchase firearms. 

“If we acknowledge that they have the right to own a firearm, then why are we denying them the ability to carry one for their own protection?”

Also testifying in favor of the bill was Taylor McKee of the National Rifle Association. 

“Young adults 18-20 are among the people protected by the Second Amendment, and they should not be barred or discriminated against from carrying firearms for self-defense,” he said. 

Speaking against the measure was Sen. Danny Carroll, R-Paducah. He asked if 18-year-olds and military members can openly carry deadly weapons. McKee answered yes, eliciting a response from Carroll.

“I think it’s important to note that I personally do not see anything to gain by passing this bill, and that’s from 24 years of being a law enforcement officer,” he said.

Carroll also said he’s a supporter of the Second Amendment, but was concerned when training requirements were eliminated from Kentucky’s concealed carry law several years ago.  

“My entire adult life as a law enforcement officer, I was trained regularly to know how and when to shoot that gun,” he said. “The idea of people carrying a concealed weapon who may not even know how to shoot that weapon is terrifying. And I think we went too far there, and I think this is another step where we had gone too far.”

Senate Minority Caucus Chair Reginald L. Thomas, D-Lexington, said the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals made clear that states could implement different rules for certain ages regarding how the weapons are carried, training requirements, and the qualifications to purchase them. 

“We’re not required by that Fifth Circuit decision to say that 18-year-olds can carry concealed weapons. Kentucky could still differentiate that Fifth Circuit decision between 18- and 20-year-olds in terms of having the rights to carry concealed weapons,” he asked McKee, who confirmed it would not be binding. 

Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, spoke in favor of the bill, explaining how his father and uncles served in the military when they were young, along with his 19-year-old son who left college after two years to enlist in the Marine Corps.

“I think those instances show that we have within the recognition of the United States government and the state government that teenagers are able to defend our country,” he said. “And therefore, they should be able to purchase a weapon and carry it as any other adult because at 18, our laws recognize them as such.”

The bill now heads to the full Senate for consideration. 

Information from the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission.