Kentucky lawmakers passed new legislation that would establish the state as a Second Amendment sanctuary and would block the federal government from enforcing a firearm ban in the state.
If successful, House Bill 153 would block local law enforcement and state agencies from assisting the Biden administration in enforcing any laws relating to the prohibition of firearms, ammunition, and gun accessories. It would also block all rules and policies that would force these agencies from cooperating in case of a federal firearm ban.
The bill was initially introduced by Republican state Rep. Josh Bray and passed through Kentucky’s state House in a 78-19 vote last month. The vote passed mainly along party lines.
The bill has now been sent to Democrat Gov. Andy Beshear’s desk and has the support of two-thirds of the chamber. Three Republican senators, Danny Carroll, David Givens, and Chris McDaniel, and six Democrat senators voted against the bill.
GOP state Sen. Lindsey Tichenor stated that President Biden is “executive order happy” and he had recently put out a new executive order for even stricter gun laws. On Tuesday, Biden unveiled an executive order that would increase the background checks needed prior to gun purchases.
Gov. Beshear has not yet stated whether or not he would support the bill. He has 10 days to either sign the bill into law, veto it, or allow it to become law without a signature if those days pass.
On Thursday lawmakers will meet for a final time before the veto period.