Kentucky and firearms laws

[kmullins]

Hey all,

I'm from California but I am thinking about making a move in a few years. I am so sick and tired of California gun laws and making it such a hassle to enjoy my number one hobby and interest. I am looking at moving to Kentucky; I have family there and have visited a number of times and really like it - and the Brady Campaign website rates it as only getting 2 out of 100 points for firearms restrictions - meaning it is very, very firearm friendly. Just thinking about what you guys who live there think about the state and particularly what you think of firearms laws there. Thanks!

 

[blakeci]

Used to live there, parents still do.
Five words- Knob Creek Machine Gun Shoot- Google it. Any state that has that, can't be that bad.

 

[chris in va]

I would highly advise you live in KY for a couple weeks before moving out here. Things are...different.

Don't move somewhere solely on the basis of firearms laws, or the lack thereof.

I live 10 minutes from Knob Creek. Great, fine, wohoo...it's just an outdoor range into a large hill. I had less restrictions at a range in VA than here. You'd think with all the pyrotechnics and crap they set off during the MG shoot that Tannerite would be allowed, nope. Recently banned it because some yahoo set one off too close to the firing line, sending shrapnel back to the RO. I had a discussion with the owner about setting 1/2# charges off at the 100 or even 150 yard lines, no dice.

You have to be a resident of KY for six months before you can apply for your CC permit. All told, roughly 9 months before it's in your hands. I've been here since December, still waiting for it.

There's no vehicle inspections here. Cars and drivers are insanely unsafe. The other day I saw a car with no hood or fender. The one initial 'inspection' you do get upon arrival states you must have a "steering device". The lady told me it could have a tiller handle and be legal. Seriously. I've lived in many states before, and by far this one scares me the most on the roads. They actually have TV commercials advocating minimum liability insurance "to keep you legal".

But hey, lots of people call this place 'God's Country', but I'm still looking for it.

 

[kentucky bucky]

Since you have relatives here , you probably already know it's alot different than CA, but what some outsiders may not realize is that Eastern KY is alot different than Western KY. The Northern part has it's differences from the Southern parts too, so I advise you to do your homework and visit different areas to find the best for you. Welcome!


PS....Don't listen to "chris in va" it's a great place to live, God put me here and I'm glad He did , but it's not perfect....no place on this earth is is.

 

[atbarr]

I've lived in KY since '93. The other 49 years I was in Texas. I miss my friends in Texas, I don't miss Texas. Texas is no where as gun friendly as KY.

KY is very gun friendly, and so are the people. If you move close to central KY, you should check out the club I belong to. http://www.bgslinc.com/index.php

Stay Safe,

A.T.

 

[jh9x18ky]

Eastern KY here..... Sure, we have our problems, issues... but name one place thats doesnt . All in all, this is a great place to live and raise a family.

 

[2RCO]

As a former Northern Kentuckian I'd just say this stay 10 miles South of Cincinnati and you'll be OK but ya might find people a bit on the Redneckish side the farther you go if you are from CA and used to CA folks.

I'd avoid Louisville the town is IMHO dirty and depressed --I just don't like the place--bet I get flamed for that. Lexington isn't too bad and is mostly a pretty nice area a bit on the Yuppy side for alot of Kentuckians course so is No KY. There are some areas of KY that are pretty economically depressed in the East so it might be rough to find a job.

The towns I'd suggest would be Walton, Burlington, Hebron, Petersburg, Warsaw, Florence--that ones iffy. Georgetown-it's close to Lexington but still maintains the small tow feel.

 

[sarge83]

About the only downside is KY tax policy is about as bad as CA. The KY Revenue Cabinet will tax anything that they think they can get away with and those fools in the legislature are just as bad. One Republican Gov. since 1970 and he was a RINO fool who spent a huge surplus on a bunch of gov. programs instead of returning it to the taxpayers.

If your thinking about opening a business, try TN, much more business friendly than KY, however their gun laws are not as friendly as KY's.

 

[KyJim]

I'm a native Kentuckian and lived here most of my life. Kentucky bucky is correct in saying different parts of the state are different from each other. After all, our eastern border is Virginia and our western border is the Mississippi River.

Most of the state is very gun friendly. Lexington, where I live, is mixed. There are some real "liberals" and a good dose of "conservatives." The only "no concealed weapons" sign I've seen here in years was at a local car dealership. Many years ago, however, the city tried to regulate firearms sales. The state legislature preempted all local firearms laws. So, while I can buy AR 15s and hi-cap pistols, I can't buy an air rifle in town.

Atbar -- I belong to the same club! I never make it to the monthly meetings. I have enough trouble getting to the range.

 

[2RCO]

Oh yeah I forgot to add I hope you enjoy City and County income taxes..They are awesome

 

[kmullins]

Yea I know how different CA is from KY. The parts where I've been and have family in are Nicholasville, Prospect, Knox County and Barbourville and Corbin as well. Most of the places I've been are very secluded and less populated. Also have famiy in Artemus (population is about 100 when I was there). I really liked Nicholasville...

 

[lamebums]

Everyone else here has pretty much hit the nail on the head already. If there's a specific area I'd suggest, I'd say either in the northern part or around the Lexington area.

Don't know if you'd prefer to live near a city (Florence, Edgewood, Independence in the north, or within Lexington itself) or in a more rural area (Walton or perhaps Dry Ridge in the north, or any of the smaller towns surrounding Lexington.)

I can make a case for any of the smaller towns in the Lexington area.

Versailles - Centerfire Systems
Paris - Bud's Gun Shop
Winchester - Doublestar

As a heads up, you'd have to experience Lexington traffic at rush hour - it's not something you'd normally see for a city its size.


In the northern part of the state, it's also within driving distance of AIM (30-40 minutes) - that saves you a ton on shipping.

Politically speaking, I haven't had any problems with either area.

Some may say Lexington is liberal - but for each yuppie or liberal college professor, there's at least two or three conservatives that have come from nearby towns.



Avoid Louisville. Apart from Knob Creek, there's no real reason to live there. It just doesn't feel like a nice place (that's what I felt... I know I'll get flamed out for this), too anti, too liberal.

Run-in's with PARC haven't exactly helped my opinion of Louisville

 

[Eightball]

The firearms laws are pretty much nothing much more than the bare minimum--i.e. federal restrictions.

Enjoy your move, and let us know when you arrive.