The Louisville Courier-Journal: on Gun Control

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

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.