Even knowing the Kentucky State House would not receive any last minute bills from the Senate, due to a rule adopted by the State House, which prevents them from receiving and voting for concurrence on last minute legislation, the State Senate voted anyway. These votes on HB 419 and HB 358 were only taken to showcase their "pro-Second Amendment" stance after playing political games with our Second Amendment rights during the 2009 30-day Budget Session.
House Bill 419, sponsored by State Representative Bob Damron (D-39) as amended would have required universities to comply with current Kentucky Code allowing gun owners to keep their firearms in a locked vehicle on public and private property. HB 419 passed 34-4 on the Senate Floor on Thursday, March 26.
House Bill 358, also sponsored by Representative Damron, as amended, passed the Senate 37-1 also on Thursday, March 26. HB358 was amended to contain the original language from HB419. This bill would have permitted citizens to carry firearms for self-defense while engaged in hunting, fishing, trapping, and other activities, and would clarify that citizens may do what is necessary for self-defense in the case of a wild animal attack, without fear of unjustified prosecution.
One bill did make it to Governor Steve Beshear's (D) desk and was signed late last Friday, March 20. House Bill 55, sponsored by Representative Damron, would bring Kentucky into compliance with the federal “Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act,” relative to the carrying of firearms by qualified and retired law enforcement officers.
Unfortunately, party politics between the State Senate and the House of Representatives got in the way of passing these important Second Amendment issues.
Thank you to everyone who called and took time out of their day to talk, email and leave messages with their legislators. NRA will continue to push these issues and other Second Amendment items in 2010.
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