FRANKFORT–The House Judiciary Committee today approved a bill that would add to the
list of state attorneys allowed to carry concealed weapons nearly anywhere in the
state.
Under House Bill 315, the deputy attorney general, assistant deputy attorneys
general, assistants, and special attorneys would have permission to carry a
concealed weapon at any time if a proper license has been obtained. The only place
where concealed-carry would be limited for the attorneys would be in jails or other
detention facilities, where carrying a concealed weapon on the premises would
require permission of the jailer or warden.
“These are prosecutors that are highly specialized, they’re in the Attorney
General’s office, and they often go into very difficult, dangerous circumstances,
and I think they deserve the same personal protection that we give every other
commonwealth and county attorney in the state,” HB 315 sponsor Rep. Robert
Benvenuti, R-Lexington, said in committee today.
Kentucky Deputy Attorney General J. Michael Brown also came before the committee to
show his support for HB 315.
“I think these lawyers, these dedicated professionals, deserve equal protection like
the other people in the law enforcement community,” said Brown.
Passing the committee on a 16-1 vote, HB 315 now goes to the full House for
consideration.