(WAVE/WKYT) – Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear vetoed a bill that would lower the minimum age for concealed carry.
House Bill 312 proposed changing the age requirement to obtain a concealed carry license from 21 to 18.
Gov. Beshear announced his decision to veto the bill on Thursday, April 2, at StoryFest Louisville while honoring Tommy Elliot, a victim of the 2023 Old National Bank shooting.
“While I believe in the Second Amendment, these pieces of legislation would allow minors under the age of 21 to carry concealed deadly weapons and protect firearm manufacturers and sellers from liability for gun violence,” Gov. Beshear said. “We must take steps to protect our people and allow them to seek justice for deadly acts like those these families have suffered from. Vetoing these bills was the right thing to do.”
Lawmakers will still have the opportunity to overturn the governor’s veto when the bill returns to the House and Senate.