Kentucky Overrides Governor's Veto, Lowers Concealed Carry Age to 18

Kentucky residents aged 18 to 20 can now apply for a provisional concealed carry license after the state legislature overrode Governor Andy Beshear's veto of House Bill 312 on April 14.

The bill creates a two-tier licensing system. Adults 21 and over will continue to obtain standard concealed carry licenses under existing law, while 18 to 20-year-olds will be eligible for provisional licenses that require completion of a firearms training course. The Kentucky State Police will administer the provisional license program and must provide notice of expiration along with an application to transition to a standard license when the holder turns 21.

Kentucky has been a permitless carry state for residents 21 and older since 2019, but there was no legal mechanism for anyone under 21 to carry a concealed firearm. Open carry remains legal in the state regardless of age.

HB 312 passed the House 73 to 17 in January and cleared the Senate 30 to 7 in March. Beshear vetoed the bill on April 2, citing a personal connection to gun violence. In his veto message, Beshear referenced his friend Tommy Elliott, who was killed along with four others in the April 10, 2023 Old National Bank shooting in Louisville.

"Tonight, I'm remembering my friend Tommy Elliott, who was murdered along with four other children of God three years ago in an act of gun violence," Beshear said.

The legislature reconvened April 14 for a veto override session and overrode Beshear on HB 312, along with several other bills. The House voted 81 to 18 and the Senate voted 28 to 9. The bill was delivered to the Secretary of State the same day and is now law.

Bill sponsor Representative Savannah Maddox said on social media that Kentucky will become the 26th state to allow 18- to 20-year-olds to carry concealed firearms.

Opponents raised concerns about young adults carrying concealed weapons. Representative Erika Hancock argued that "rights are often exercised alongside reasonable guardrails that protect the public and preserve order. Rights and responsibilities go hand in hand." Representative Sarah Stalker questioned the logic of allowing 18- to 20-year-olds to carry concealed when they cannot legally purchase handguns from federal licensees. "A teen can't have purchased it, but you can own it, and now we're telling you you can conceal carry. If we're following the numbers, we're not going in the right order. And this doesn't make sense," Stalker said.

Supporters counter that the training requirement makes the bill a net positive for safety. Michael Lewis, who owns   Wolfgar Concealment and teaches firearm safety courses, told WLKY that the legislation creates a regulated path rather than leaving young adults to figure things out on their own. "Even without this legislation, they can get in possession of [a firearm]. This legislation is making sure that it's regulated. It's monitored," Lewis said. "I would much rather have somebody that's educated and trained carrying a gun than just getting a firearm from a relative or whatever path that they get it, and they're out there untrained."

Even some law enforcement voices supportive of the Second Amendment expressed reservations. St. Matthews Police Chief Barry Wilkerson told   WDRB in March that accountability matters more than age. "I see age as basically just a number. We have 30 year olds who shouldn't be carrying guns because they're not responsible. They leave them in their vehicles and leave their cars unlocked and their weapons get stolen," Wilkerson said. "Really, it's not just the age. It's the responsibility and accountability factor that goes with it."

The bill also includes a House floor amendment from Representative Chuck Aull that requires the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet to submit an annual report to the Legislative Research Commission on fatal and nonfatal gun related incidents resulting from concealed carry of firearms and deadly weapons.

Under federal law, 18- to 20-year-olds face restrictions on handgun purchases from federal licensees but can legally possess handguns in most states. The practical effect of HB 312 is straightforward: young adults in Kentucky who previously could open carry but had no legal option to conceal a firearm now have a regulated pathway to do so, provided they complete the required training.