REED’S SENATE BILL 75 PASSES COMMITTEE,
MAY BE TAKEN UP BY THE FULL SENATE
FRANKFORT, KY (March 6, 2025) – Sen. Aaron Reed, R-Shelbyville, introduced Senate Bill 75 today, legislation aimed at restoring equality for all legal adults in Kentucky by lowering the concealed carry permit age from 21 to 18 years old. The bill is centered on fairness, constitutional rights, and the ability of young adults to protect themselves like other law-abiding citizens and passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee favorably.
“At 18 years old, a Kentuckian is legally an adult. They can vote, sign contracts, marry, be tried as an adult in court, and most importantly, serve in the United States military,” said Reed. “We trust them to carry a rifle on the battlefield to defend our freedoms, yet we deny them the right to carry a concealed weapon for self-defense at home. This is an unjust double standard that must be corrected.”
Reed addressed concerns that lowering the concealed carry age would make it easier for minors to access firearms. He emphasized that SB 75 does not change firearm purchasing laws, which remain governed by federal law and are subject to background checks.
“Nothing in this bill weakens or changes our existing gun purchasing laws,” Reed clarified. “It simply ensures that those who are already legally allowed to own a firearm are given the same right to carry it responsibly at 18, just as they would at 21.”
Reed pointed to legal precedent supporting the bill, referencing a January ruling by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals that found it unconstitutional to deny 18- to 20-year-olds the right to purchase firearms.
“If we acknowledge that they have the right to own a firearm, then why are we denying them the ability to carry one for their own protection?” Reed asked.
For Reed, this issue is personal. As a father to an 18-year-old daughter, he expressed his desire for her and all young adults to have the legal tools necessary to defend themselves.
“This bill does not force anyone to carry a concealed weapon. It simply gives them the choice,” he said. “Self-defense is not a privilege—it’s a fundamental right.”
SB 75 aligns with Kentucky’s commitment to individual liberty and personal responsibility, ensuring that all legal adults are treated equally under the law. It has the support of the National Rifle Association.
President Ronald Reagan told us, ‘Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid.’
“We must pass this bill to ensure our young adults can walk without fear and stand strong in their right to protect themselves,” said Reed.
“I urge this committee to stand for equal rights for all adults, respect the Constitution, and pass this bill,” Reed concluded.
###
Senator Aaron Reed represents the 7th Senate District, including Anderson, Henry, and Shelby Counties, along with a portion of Jefferson County. Reed serves as vice chair of the Senate Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection Committee. He is also a member of the Senate Committees on Agriculture, Education, Justice and Judiciary, Legislative Oversight and Investigations and Tobacco Settlement.
For a high-resolution .jpeg of Sen. Reed, please visit: https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators/Pages/Legislator-Profile.aspx?DistrictNumber=107