LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — A new Kentucky law went into effect Tuesday that allows 18 to 20-year-olds to apply for a provisional concealed carry license in Kentucky.
To get a license, applicants must be a U.S. citizen and a Kentucky resident. Kentucky is an open carry state, but did not have any way for people under 21 to conceal carry.
They also must successfully pass a background check and have up to eight hours of firearm training.
Troy Milburn, the general manager at Next Level Ranges, helps with that training.
"Without question, safety is the most important part of owning firearms," Milburn said. "I think it speaks to that when it's an eight-hour class that you take, and then there's testing after that allows us to evaluate that person."
Milburn said the new law is controversial, but he'll teach anyone legally allowed how to use a firearm.
"The thought has always been at 18 to 20 years of age, that is a huge responsibility to take on," he said. "Our responsibility is not to make a decision about whether or not that's right or wrong. Our government makes those decisions."
His store's training includes an indoor range, where trainers can properly teach people how to use a concealed weapon. The training includes lessons about the laws and when people can and cannot use a firearm to defend themselves.
"Our goal is to educate people and to provide law-abiding citizens who want to own a firearm the education that goes along with that," Milburn said.
He is also expecting sales to go up.
"We are seeing a lot of interest, people calling, asking about it," he said. "It does help to generate business, which is always good for us."
As for recent gun violence in Louisville, Milburn said those things are not in a retail store's control.
"It's not our place to make decisions about what an individual is going to do with a weapon," he said. "We're here to provide a service to educate those people, to make them aware of all those responsibilities and what that looks like for them as they take that role."
Gov. Andy Beshear vetoed the bill arguing the concealed carry age should be 21, the same age required to buy alcohol or tobacco. State lawmakers overrode the veto 28 to 9.
The license expires when the holder turns 21.
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