Kentucky Gun Laws

Gun Control Laws in Kentucky

Kentucky gun laws govern the usage, sale, and possession of guns and ammunition in the state. Kentucky is a “Shall Issue” state and offers concealed carry permits to its residents. The permit includes other “deadly weapons” such as clubs, blackjacks, nunchaku, shuriken, and brass knuckles, not just guns. They offer these permits only to Kentucky residents. Kentucky has some interesting laws connected with their CCW. If someone is in arrears with child support, they cannot obtain one. Ex-military personnel are exempt from having to undergo training and required training is limited to 8 hours only. However, in Kentucky, you cannot carry into police stations, prisons, courthouses, government buildings, anywhere that alcohol is served and nowhere near a school or childcare facility.

State CCW Quick Facts

Kentucky’s policy is Shall Issue in practice and its license is issued to residents. You can carry a handgun in: state parks, state and national forests, road side rest areas, vehicle, all areas of the state not listed as forbidden.

Kentucky CCW Reciprocity Map

The states that honor a Kentucky gun permit are

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Kentucky is quite generous with reciprocity and honors all other U.S. state permits for residents and non-residents. Those states and districts are

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, 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, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, the District of Columbia, New York City, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

The thirteen states that do not allow a Kentucky permit are

California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington and the District of Columbia.

Kentucky Concealed Carry Permit and Laws

Kentucky is a “Shall Issue” state for concealed carry permits. Kentucky is quite liberal with their gun laws and anyone with or without a permit can carry in their car, concealed or open. Legally, you do not need to inform an officer when you are carrying either. Although you don’t need to inform them, open carry is completely legal, but an officer may question you as to your intentions with the firearm, so be prepared. Although the law does not specifically require you to observe “no weapons” signs, if a business posts one, it can be legally upheld it you do not comply. You can carry in state parks and wildlife preserves legally. You cannot carry in bars but you can in restaurants. Kentucky is not a constitutional carry state.

CCW Eligibility: Qualify or Pre-Qualify?

To qualify for a concealed carry permit, you must be 21 years old. You also must demonstrate you can accurately fire a gun. You must hit 11 targets out of 20 rounds to pass. You must be a resident of the state for at least six months and a legal U.S. citizen. You cannot have a history, which includes a substance abuse program or mental illness. You cannot have more than two DUI’s to your name. You cannot owe any back child support either. You cannot have any charges against you that are of a violent or domestic abuse nature. Once you have your CCW, you are not allowed to carry on any school or university campus, secure areas of airports, federally prohibited areas, any child-care facility, any place that serves alcohol and government buildings.

Kentucky Gun Background Check

Kentucky is not a “point of sale” state and does not require their own background check when purchasing a firearm. However, the federal law takes over, and you will need to submit to a federal FBI background check using the NCIS system. The background check requirement does not apply to private sales. Anyone with a gun permit from July 12, 2006, and more recently, is exempt from having to undergo the background check when purchasing a firearm from a licensed dealer.

KY CCW and Pistol Permit Information

KY Concealed Carry License Fee information

Places Where You Can & Can’t Carry a Gun in Kentucky

Kentucky CCW Contact

Kentucky Bureau of Firearms

CCW Licensing Offices in Kentucky

Reference Links

Counties in Kentucky