At the General Assembly in Frankfort, the Senate has given the nod to make in Kentucky a second amendment “sanctuary” state.
It stems from the passage of House Bill 153 sponsored by representative Josh Bray of Mount Vernon. The measure would prohibit Kentucky from enforcing any federal firearms bans. Put another way, it prohibits the use of state resources, meaning state tax dollars and personnel to enforce federal laws as they pertain to band firearms, ammunition, and accessories set in place after 202. Implying that’s the federal government task to bear.
Presenting House Bill 153 on the floor Wednesday evening, Senator Lindsey Tichenor of Oldham County said “What is in this bill is the affirmation that Kentuckians, and only Kentuckians, should decide the future of our second rights.”
Bray had argued that a recent interpretation by Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms deems pistol braces to be illegal, which would make thousands of Kentuckians felons basically overnight.
While the bill did pass, it wasn’t without lengthy debate. Senators Neal, Carroll, and Cassie Chambers Armstrong agree that the legislation could put law-enforcement in a precarious situation. “This bill does not simply say that tax payer resources will not be used to enforce federal law. This bill takes it a step further, and what it says is that it is a crime for our officers and our state employees to enforce duly enacted federal laws and can also result in punitive termination by an employee. This is clearly unconstitutional,” said Armstrong.
House Bill 153 now heads to the Governors desk.
