Kentucky
Total prohibition Total freedom
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Traveler's checklist:
*Firearms Ownership:
unrestricted, no permit or license required*Assault weapon ownership: unrestricted, no permit or license required
*Machine Gun Ownership:
no state restrictions, compliance with federal law only*Firearm law uniformity:
preemption law, firearm laws uniform throughout state*Right of Self-Defense: castle doctrine, right protected by statute
*Open carry: unrestricted in most public areas and generally accepted
*Concealed carry:
licenses granted to residents on a "shall issue" basis; automatic*Vehicle carry and transportation:
firearms (rifles, shotguns and handguns) may
Kentucky's rolling hills and tree-covered mountains provide
the perfect
setting for any Hollywood production about the early pioneers of the
Ohio valley.
Firearms carry in those days was essential for survival. Fortunately for
gun-owners,
Kentucky still
maintains a healthy respect for this heritage in its firearm laws.
Kentucky requires a license to carry a firearm concealed on or
about one's
person. The State Police issue such permits through the
local sheriff of the
applicant's home county for a five year term. Kentucky does
not grant permits to
nonresidents but will recognize any permit issued by
another state. Kentucky
licenses allow the concealed carry of any deadly weapon
by the permittee.
A traveler without a permit may carry loaded firearms in a
vehicle if the
weapons are in plain view. Kentucky allows anyone to carry a
loaded handgun in a
visible belt holster or on the dashboard or passenger seat
of one's car. Glove
compartment carry is also considered legitimate as long the
compartment is of the
factory-installed variety on the passenger's side. Console
boxes and seat pockets
are not legitimate areas for unlicensed carry. Carrying a
handgun in one of these
areas is the same as placing the weapon under the seat. Both modes of carry are
limited to persons possessing carry licenses. Rifles and
shotguns may be carried
loaded and in plain view. The weapons may be secured in
gun racks, gun slings, or
commercial gun cases located anywhere in the vehicle
except concealed about the person.
Travelers may carry loaded firearms in plain view while on foot
in virtually any
public area of the state. Such carry is best limited to visible
belt holsters secured on
one's hip. Kentucky's strong preemption law prevents
this activity, as well as most
others involving firearms, from being locally
regulated. Recently, employers were
further prohibited from preventing employees from carrying firearms in their
vehicles
while the vehicles are parked on company property.