Following the Minneapolis mass shooting of children in a church on the first day of school, we are hearing a lot of “it’s not the guns, it’s mental health” and “what about just addressing safety?”
I follow the proposed gun bills in the Kentucky legislature and report on their progress. The fact is, several mental health and firearm safety bills are proposed each year but never considered.
What follows is a partial list of bills filed during Kentucky’s 2025 regular session. NONE of these bills received a single hearing.
Senate Bill 235 — A re-filing of 2024 Senate Bill 13 (CARR) to temporarily remove firearms from a person in mental health crisis. Neither bill received a hearing.
House Bill 330 — Prohibit firearm possession by convicted domestic abusers.
House Bill 409 — Require a 5 day waiting period
House Bill 55 — Hold adults civilly liable for minors accessing their guns.
House Bill 93 — A person shall not target shoot carelessly, recklessly, or without regard for the safety of any person.
House Bill 20 — Prohibit unlawful storage of a firearm; establish elements of the crime as recklessly allowing access to an unsecured firearm by a minor.
House Bill 124 — Require background checks for private firearms sales; require reporting to law enforcement of firearm and ammunition thefts and losses; require the safe storage of firearms and more.
House Bill 214 — Tax credit for taking firearm training.
Senate Bill 92 —Require destruction if the firearm was used in the commission of a violent offense.
If Republicans keep saying we need to address mental health after mass shootings, why don’t they?
It’s simple.
- Senate and house leadership in our state legislatures are beholden to their party’s leaders. Bills are heard only if majority leadership allows.
- Party leaders are beholden to the national gun lobby.
- The gun lobby represents gun companies who want to do what? Sell more guns.
When it comes to making laws to keep your children safe from gun violence, it is not about addressing mental health — which you can see by the bills filed above and ignored — it is about money.
Remember that the next time you hear a lawmaker say the words “mental health” after a shooting. Then call your congressman, and keep calling.
--30--
Comments
