LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Kentucky currently has no waiting period when someone purchases a firearm. Opponents of such restrictions critique their effectiveness, while supporters believe it is another tool to keep people safe.
Following the recent shooting in Laurel County, conversations about waiting periods have been renewed. On Sept. 7, police say Joseph Couch shot five people as he opened fire on cars traveling along I-75. Several law enforcement agencies are assisting in the ongoing search for Couch.
Police revealed Couch purchased an AR-15 rifle and ammunition hours before the shooting.
“I believe that if we do not sit down and think about this gun violence holistically, we’re never going to come up with the right solution,” said State Rep. Keturah Herron, D-Louisville.
Herron says she supports waiting periods, among other solutions to combat gun violence. A topic she says is a priority of hers as an elected official.
According to the Giffords Law Center, 13 states and Washington D.C. have some type of waiting period for gun purchase.
Herron explains while she believes waiting periods are beneficial, she understands it is not a fix-all solution.
“We have to start looking at all of these incidences of gun violence and start to come up with solutions that’s going to have the greatest impact,” Herron said.
This year House Democrats filed a bill to create a five-day waiting period for gun purchases. It failed to be brought up for a vote.
As did Herron’s bill to establish a state office focused on reducing community violence.
“I don’t have the answers, but I know that we’ve got to do something, right? And so we got to start somewhere,” Herron said.
Across the aisle, State Rep. Savanna Maddox, R-Dry Ridge, opposes this solution and others she feels infringes on the Second Amendment.
”I would just say that there is no room for compromise in the Commonwealth of Kentucky when it comes to protecting our Second Amendment rights,” Maddox said.
Maddox believes measures like waiting periods are not effective.
Adding she wants to eliminate gun free zones such as college campuses and strongly opposes legislation that would allow police to temporarily take a person’s firearms whose believed to be a danger to themself or others.
“Waiting periods, there is no evidence whatsoever that they reduce crime or suicides or anything of that nature, but regardless, gun control is off the table as far as I’m concerned, because it’s unconstitutional,” Maddox stated.
Ultimately, Kentucky voters will decide through elections how and if gun violence is addressed at the statewide level.
In 2019, Kentucky eliminated the requirement of a permit to conceal carry a firearm. The state has no statute on open carrying guns, firearm owners also are not required to register their weapons.