Kentuckians between 18 and 20 can already legally purchase deadly weapons and open carry in the Commonwealth. Members of the military who fall in that age group are also allowed to carry a concealed weapon.

What Senate Bill 75 does is extend the right to concealed carry to 18-to-20 year olds who are not in the armed services.

Sen. Aaron Reed, a Shelbyville Republican, described the NRA-backed bill as “not a radical idea,” but one of fairness.

“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,” he said. “We trust them to carry a rifle on the battlefield to defend our freedoms, yet we deny them the right to carry a concealed weapon to defend themselves at home.”

Sen. Danny Carroll, a former police officer, noted the lack of any required training and argued the bill would only increase risks for law enforcement. Cathy Hobart, a gun safety advocate and volunteer since the Marshall County High School shooting in 2018, said it would do the same for young people.

“If you put more guns into more young people’s hands, more of them will die and more of them will kill. Do you really want this on your conscience?” she said.

The bill lowering the concealed carry age in Kentucky now moves to the full Senate.