Director, Commonwealth Policy Center

Gov. Bevin signed a bill that allows adults to carry a concealed handgun without a permit or training. It's called constitutional carry. Proponents say the Second Amendment to the Constitution allows people to carry a weapon without a permit from the government. They also argue that training shouldn't be required either.  Opponents on the other hand argue that such legislation turns us into something akin to the wild west where a gunfight could break out any minute. What's being forgotten in this debate is that Kentucky already has an open carry law on the books. This means that any adult of legal age can already carry a sidearm in public so long as it is not hidden inside pants or a jacket. We haven't seen gunfights in our town squares under the old law, nor should any increase be expected with constitutional carry.