Young Adults Can Finally Carry Concealed in Kentucky – Governor Wanted Them Disarmed

Starting today, Kentucky residents ages 18 to 20 can apply for a provisional permit allowing them to carry a concealed weapon.

Kentucky is a Constitutional Carry state, but that law only applies to adults 21 and older. Until now, there was no legal pathway for anyone under 21 to carry a concealed firearm.

What makes this even more unusual is that Kentucky already allows adults 18 and older to openly carry a sidearm. In other words, the state has long permitted young adults to carry a firearm in the most visible way possible, but prohibited them from concealing it.

Kentucky also recognizes permitless carry for non‑residents who are 21 and older. So an out‑of‑state adult could legally carry concealed in Kentucky without a permit, while Kentucky’s own 18‑ to 20‑year‑old residents could not. The new provisional permit closes that gap.

The law takes effect despite a veto from Democratic Governor Andy Beshear. Beshear argued that because 18‑ to 20‑year‑olds cannot legally purchase alcohol or tobacco, they should not be allowed to carry concealed firearms. But alcohol and tobacco are not constitutionally protected rights, while the right to keep and bear arms is.