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Kentucky governor signs bill making concealed carry legal without permit or training

Posted at 12:45 PM, Mar 12, 2019
and last updated 2019-03-12 12:45:21-04

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin signed a bill into law Monday letting people carry a concealed gun without a permit or training.

It was already legal to open carry without a permit in Kentucky. Senate Bill 150 allows anyone age 21 or older who lawfully possesses a firearm to carry concealed firearms or other deadly weapons anyplace someone with a permit was allowed to carry them before, without needing a permit.

Public schools and other gun-free areas will remain off-limits for firearms.

Opponents of the bill raised concerns about safety issues. The National Rifle Association backed the bill and supporters said it's a Second Amendment rights issue.

In a written statement, Chris Cox with the NRA called the law "a common sense measure."

Kentucky lawmakers introduced a similar bill in 2017, but it never was never moved to a vote.