State of Kentucky Archives: on Gun Control

Amy McGrath: Supports background checks, honest conversation about guns

Charles Booker: Supports gun control; background checks; no assault weapons

Andy Beshear: Signed law requiring school police officers to carry guns

Wesley Morgan: Oppose all efforts to eliminate; restrict 2nd Amendment

C. Wesley Morgan: Count on me to protect your 2nd amendment rights

Matt Bevin: Allow concealed carry of guns without a license, training

Analysis by The Louisville Courier-Journal: Bevin signed a bill that lets people carry a concealed gun without getting a permit or completing a background check and safety training first. Senate Bill 150 was backed by the National Rifle Association but opposed by groups such as Louisville Metro Police and the Kentucky State Fraternal Order of Police. State law had required people to get a permit before carrying a concealed firearm.

Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 29-8-0 on Feb/14/19; Passed House 60-37-3 on Mar/1/19; Signed by Governor Matt Bevin on Mar/11/19

Charles Booker: Oppose concealed carry of guns without license & training

Analysis by The Louisville Courier-Journal: Bevin signed a bill that lets people carry a concealed gun without getting a permit or completing a background check and safety training first. Senate Bill 150 was backed by the National Rifle Association but opposed by groups such as Louisville Metro Police and the Kentucky State Fraternal Order of Police. State law had required people to get a permit before carrying a concealed firearm.

Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 29-8-0 on Feb/14/19; Passed House 60-37-3 on Mar/1/19; State Rep. Charles Booker voted NO; Signed by Governor Matt Bevin on Mar/11/19

Robert Goforth: Allow concealed carry of guns without a license, training

Analysis by The Louisville Courier-Journal: Bevin signed a bill that lets people carry a concealed gun without getting a permit or completing a background check and safety training first. Senate Bill 150 was backed by the National Rifle Association but opposed by groups such as Louisville Metro Police and the Kentucky State Fraternal Order of Police. State law had required people to get a permit before carrying a concealed firearm.

Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 29-8-0 on Feb/14/19; Passed House 60-37-3 on Mar/1/19; State Rep. Robert Goforth voted YES; Signed by Governor Matt Bevin on Mar/11/19

Rocky Adkins: Oppose concealed carry of guns without license & training

Analysis by The Louisville Courier-Journal: Bevin signed a bill that lets people carry a concealed gun without getting a permit or completing a background check and safety training first. Senate Bill 150 was backed by the National Rifle Association but opposed by groups such as Louisville Metro Police and the Kentucky State Fraternal Order of Police. State law had required people to get a permit before carrying a concealed firearm.

Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 29-8-0 on Feb/14/19; Passed House 60-37-3 on Mar/1/19; Kentucky House Minority Leader Rocky Adkins voted NO; Signed by Governor Matt Bevin on Mar/11/19

Robert Goforth: Ban weapons in courtrooms and jails

"It's a public protection bill. I want to make sure that you're protected wherever you go," Goforth said. "I want to make sure you can protect yourself, your family and others, if need be."

Matt Bevin: Guns aren't problem in schools; kids in my school had guns

Goforth's bill appears in lockstep with Gov. Matt Bevin's stance on guns in schools. A day after the 2018 high school shooting in Parkland (FL), that left 17 students and staff dead, Bevin said that guns weren't the problem. When he went to school in New England, students would bring guns in for show-and-tell, he said. "Sometimes they'd be in kids' lockers," Bevin said. "Nobody even thought about shooting other people with them. So it's not a gun problem."

Robert Goforth: Concealed carry at schools, bars, and businesses

The bill would also abolish restrictions preventing people with concealed carry licenses from bringing guns into bars and other private businesses. Those with licenses would also be able to bring concealed weapons into meetings of the General Assembly.

"I'm trying to protect the public," Goforth told the Courier Journal. Goforth said his bill is intended to address a loophole in state law, which allows individuals to carry concealed weapons into bars, restaurants and other private establishments as long as the firearms aren't loaded. "Most people may not realize that the person next to you has a clip in his left pocket and a gun in his right pocket and there's nothing law enforcement can do about it," Goforth said.

Matt Bevin: Culture of violence, like zombie shows, cause mass shootings

In a radio interview, the Kentucky Republican said new laws aren't the solution to violence, but addressing a "culture of death" in media is the start. "It starts with everything from the type of entertainment that we focus on," Bevin said. "What's the most popular topic that seems to be in every cable television network. Television shows are all about, what? Zombies! I don't get it ... that's what we are."

Bevin added that violent shows are morphing the minds of young, impressionable children. "When a culture is surrounded by, inundated by, rewards things that celebrate death, whether it is zombies in television shows, the number of abortions ... there's a thousand justifications for why we do this," Bevin said.

Matt Bevin: School shootings caused by "culture of death" in media

For his part, Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin has focused on the "culture" around gun violence. In a video after the Marshall County shooting, he blamed a "culture of death" in America and attributed the violence to video games, films, television and social media.

In a meeting with the Federal Commission on School Safety last week, Bevin brought up the impact of smart phones on students' mental health "We need to start being very very intentional and thoughtful and data driven as it relates to the impact of these devices in the hands of young people," Bevin said.

Mitch McConnell: Congress cannot fix school shootings; must act locally

McConnell is not in favor of gun control laws. He pointed out that Congress appropriated money for school counseling and school safety in its appropriations bill and said he thinks school security is the most likely way that schools can stop shootings. "You would think, given how much it takes to get on an American plane or given how much it takes to get into courthouses, that this might be something that we could achieve, but I don't think we could do that from Washington, I think it's basically a local decision."

He added: "It's a darn shame that's where we are, but this epidemic is something that's got all of our attention."

James Comer: Unwavering support of 2nd Amendment

C. Wesley Morgan: No background checks; yes concealed carry

A: No.

Q: Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?

A: No.

Q: Should citizens be allowed to carry concealed guns?

A: Yes.

Q: Should a license be required for gun possession?

A: No. What part of "shall not be infringed" do you not understand? You shouldn't have to ask the government for permission to carry a gun.

Jim Gray: Ban gun purchases by people on FBI terrorist watch list

In December, the day after an extremist couple shot and killed 14 people in San Bernardino, Paul voted against a Democrat-backed bill that would have blocked the sale of guns through licensed firearms dealers to roughly 10,000 Americans whose names are reported to be on the secret watch list, indicating that federal law-enforcement officials suspect them of possible terrorist activity. The legislation failed by a 54-to-45 vote.

Jim Gray: Ok to delay gun sales for 72 hours, but no secret lists

Responding to Gray's criticism, Paul said he voted for an alternative bill last December, one backed by Republicans, to let federal law-enforcement officials delay gun sales to suspected terrorists for up to 72 hours. "The legislation I supported prevented the Obama administration from drawing up a secret list of Americans who, through no judicial process, are stripped of their rights," Paul said.

Jack Conway: Believes in right to bear arms and self-protection

The NRA has praised Jack's efforts to protect the rights of gun owners. In joining the NRA's Amicus Brief to the United States Supreme Court, Jack asked the Court to hold that the Second Amendment applies to state and local governments through the 14th Amendment. As Attorney General, Jack has also joined an Amicus Brief in Kolbe v. O'Malley and Jackson, et al. v. San Francisco, et al, cases related to the Second Amendment. Jack believes in the right to bear arms and the rights of our citizens to protect themselves.

Alison Grimes: Same background-check standards at gun store versus gun show

Grimes said she is a "big supporter" of the 2nd Amendment and does not believe that banning weapons "is the way to actually reduce the violence that we see here in the US." Instead, she said, the government should work harder "to make sure we educate people and that we enforce the law."

When the Herald-Leader submitted a questionnaire to the Senate campaigns in May, Grimes responded to a question about requiring background checks at gun shows by saying that she supports "reasonable background checks to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill." She said at the time, "However, these efforts should not infringe upon the right of law-abiding Americans to possess firearms."

Alison Grimes: Proud of long-held sporting & hunting traditions

As an NRA member, my strong support for the Second Amendment is unquestioned. I am proud of Kentucky's long-held gun ownership, sporting and hunting traditions. It is unfortunate that Senator McConnell is desperate to mislead Kentucky voters about my strong support for the Second Amendment. In the Senate, I will protect my fellow Kentuckians' right to keep and bear arms. Whenever he's not busy pandering to Washington lobbyists, I welcome Senator McConnell to come shoot with me at the range any day."