| Subject/Law |
Long Guns |
Handguns |
Relevant Statutes |
Notes |
| State permit to purchase? |
No |
No |
|
|
| Firearm registration? |
No |
No |
|
|
| "Assault weapon" law? |
No |
No |
|
|
| Owner license required? |
No |
No |
|
|
| Carry permits issued? |
No |
Yes |
KRS Ā§ 237.110
|
|
| State preemption of local restrictions? |
Yes |
Yes |
KRS Ā§ 65.870
|
Exception: KRS Ā§ 237.115 allows the following entities to restrict concealed carry:
- Postsecondary educational institutions
- Any unit of government within the state in buildings that it owns, leases, or occupies Ä€” however, concealed carry is allowed in highway rest areas, public housing, and private dwellings
|
| NFA weapons restricted? |
No |
No |
|
|
| Peaceable journey laws? |
No |
No |
|
Federal rules observed. |
Kentucky has a "shall-issue" concealed carry law, set forth in Kentucky Revised Statutes Ā§ 237.110. Once issued, permits are valid for 5 years. Kentucky's law in this area has a few distinctive features:
-
An applicant must have been a resident of Kentucky for at least 6 months before filing his or her application. A member of the U.S. military who has been stationed in Kentucky for at least 6 months at the time of filing is also eligible, regardless of his or her domicile.
- Applicants cannot be in arrears on child support obligations in an amount that would equal or exceed that accumulated in one year of nonpayment.
- The required firearms safety course can be no longer than 8 hours, and also includes a mandatory marksmanship test, in which the applicant must hit a full-sized silhouette target from 7 yards with at least 11 out of 20 rounds fired. (The distance is not stated in the statute, but is set forth in the administrative regulations governing the course.[108])
Under KRS Ā§ 237.110 (20)(a), Kentucky recognizes all currently valid concealed carry permits issued by other U.S. jurisdictions.
Suppressors are legally transferable in Kentucky.
KRS Ā§ 527.020 (8) permits firearms to be carried in a glove compartment of a motor vehicle:
A firearm or other deadly weapon shall not be deemed concealed on or about the person if it is located in a glove compartment, regularly installed in a motor vehicle by its manufacturer, regardless of whether said compartment is locked, unlocked, or does not have a locking mechanism. No person or organization, public or private, shall prohibit a person from keeping a firearm or ammunition, or both, or other deadly weapon in a glove compartment of a vehicle in accordance with the provisions of this subsection. Any attempt by a person or organization, public or private, to violate the provisions of this subsection may be the subject of an action for appropriate relief or for damages in a Circuit Court or District Court of competent jurisdiction.
State Legal Statute Source:
KRS 237.110
State Department Locations:
Last Revised: March 23, 2010
Kentucky State Police
919 Versailles Road
Frankfort, Kentucky 40601
Phone: (502) 227-8725
Office of the Kentucky Attorney General
Frankfort, Kentucky 40601
Phone: (502) 696-5300
Permit Costs & Info:
$60 5 years
Issuing Authority: State Police
Open Carry Information:
Kentucky is one of our "Gold Star" open carry states. There is complete state preemption of all firearms laws, open carry is constitutionally protected with court precedent and law enforcement is aware of its legality
KRS Ā§ 237.104 prohibits the state from seizing firearms from private citizens in the event of a disaster or emergency.
States that Honor Kentucky's ccw permit:
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, WyomingState CCW Permits that Kentucky Honors:
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Washington DC, West Virginia, Wyoming
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