Constitutional Carry Bills in Final Stretch in Kentucky, Oklahoma

The Second Amendment could be the only permit required for lawful concealed carry under proposals gaining steam in Kentucky and Oklahoma.

On Tuesday, SB 150 was referred to the Kentucky House Judiciary Committee for review in that chamber. The bill, which had gotten the nod from the state Senate on Valentine’s Day in a 29-8 roll call, would make it clear the way for adults in the state who are lawfully able to possess a handgun to carry one concealed without first getting a license.

The ultimate passage in the legislature would speed SB 150 to Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin, a Republican who was a featured speaker on the subject of gun rights in 2016 at the National Rifle Association’s Annual Meeting held in Louisville.

Meanwhile, in Oklahoma this week, the state Senate Appropriations Committee passed similar legislation, HB 2597, in an easy 18-4 vote without debate. The state House has already approved the measure and Gov. Kevin Stitt, R, signaled his support of constitutional carry soon after the bill carried that chamber, saying he had backedthe concept “from the very beginning.”