Kentucky’s Governor Democrat Andy Beshear suffered a sharp political humiliation this week. The Kentucky General Assembly swiftly overrode his vetoes of dozens of bills, including two strong pro-Second Amendment bills. The high-profile overrides delivered a clear rebuke to Beshear’s out-of place, out-of-touch, anti-gun agenda in the Bluegrass State.
House Bill 78 provides critical liability protections for those in the firearms industry against junk lawsuits stemming from the criminal or unlawful misuse of their products by third parties. It bolster’s protection for Kentucky gun companies on top of longstanding federal protections under the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. Beshear, who’s likely running for president in 2028, had vetoed the bill in the name of victims of the senseless 2023 Louisville bank shooting. Lawmakers delivered their response, blocking anti-gun activists attempts to bankrupt responsible businesses through abusive lawfare.
House Bill 312 orders the Kentucky State Police to issue provisional carry licenses to responsible 18- to 20-year-olds after they have received required training and background checks. At age 21, these provisional licenses convert to standard permits – or the holders can dispense with them thanks to permitless carry.
Young adults can already vote, serve in the military, sign contracts, get married, start businesses, and openly carry firearms under Kentucky’s constitutional carry law. Beshear claimed that allowing young adults to exercise all of their civil rights and carry handguns would somehow “endanger” the youth. Nice try, Andy.
Governor Beshear’s partisan political posturing didn’t fly this year. Such a shame.
[T] he legislature convened for a veto override session, and successfully overrode Governor Andy Beshear’s vetoes of House Bill 78 and House Bill 312.
House Bill 78 provides critical liability protections for firearm industry members from third-party misuse of products they manufacture or sell, preventing anti-gun groups from filing frivolous lawsuits in an effort to bankrupt the firearms industry.
House Bill 312 creates provisional concealed carry permits for 18-20 year olds.
NRA thanks lead sponsors TJ Roberts, Wade Williams, Savannah Maddox, and Josh Bray, all legislators who supported these bills throughout the session, and all NRA Members and fellow Second Amendment advocates who engaged with legislators this session.
NRA will be back in Frankfort for the 2027 session. Meanwhile, please stay tuned to www.nraila.org and your email inbox for further updates on issues affecting our Second Amendment rights and hunting heritage in Kentucky.