'2nd Amendment Sanctuary' bill to evade federal gun laws passes Kentucky legislature, heads to governor

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Kentucky lawmakers gave a “2nd Amendment Sanctuary” bill to Gov. Andy Beshear for consideration Wednesday.

Kentucky's House Bill 153, sponsored by state Rep. Josh Bray, R-Mt. Vernon, would prohibit local law enforcement agencies in Kentucky from enforcing federal firearm regulations. Similar measures have been found unconstitutional in other states because state laws can't override federal ones. 

The bill slowly but consistently advanced out of the Kentucky House and through the state's Senate over the last several weeks. 

After debating the bill’s constitutionality and potential impact on law enforcement Wednesday afternoon, the Senate voted 27-9 to approve the bill. Three Republican senators joined the chamber’s six Democrats in voting against the bill.

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The bill could make it harder for officers to make arrests, opponents argued. 

“What this would mean, if there is an FBI agent, a DEA agent, and they’re going after a bad guy and they have charges based on a Federal Firearms ban. [Police] will not be able to go assist that federal agent,” said Republican Sen. Danny Carroll, who voted against the bill, per local outlet WHAS 11.

Supporters argued the bill would repel federal overreach, the outlet reported. 

President Joe Biden took executive action Tuesday that seeks to increase the number of background checks conducted during gun sales as the White House reverts to unilateral ways to tackle gun control amid bleak prospects in Congress.

Since the Kentucky state Senate did not change the bill from its initial state, it does not need to go back to the House for concurrence – it will go straight to Beshear’s desk. Beshear will have 10 days to either sign the bill into law, let it become law without his signature or veto it. 

Lawmakers will meet Thursday before adjourning for the veto period. They will return March 29 and 30 to override vetoes and pass any final bills before ending the 2023 legislative session. 

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Follow Olivia Krauth on Twitter at @oliviakrauth. The USA Today Network contributed to this story.