[See reply #3 below for 3/12 UPDATE]

From Dr. John Lott:

On Wednesday, I was the first witness before the Kentucky state House Judiciary Committee about their Constitutional Carry bill. The committee vote was the most challenging vote that the legislation faced, and the final vote was 12 for - 8 against - 3 abstentions. Several judiciary committee members told me that my testimony made a real difference. On Friday, the bill passed the state House by a 60-to-37 vote and heads to the governor, who has promised to sign it. When signed, Kentucky will become the 17th state that allows concealed carry without a permit in all or virtually all the state.

Video (note the hordes of red-shirted demanding moms seated right behind him...):

https://crimeresearch.org/2019/02/dr-lott-testifies-before-kentucky-house-judiciary-committee-on-constitutional-carry/

The NRA's announcement says Kentucky will be nbr 16. Did they miss one?

The NRA's announcement says Kentucky will be nbr 16. Did they miss one?

Some people question/dispute whether Arkansas and/or Montana are "truly" fully permitless because there are limitations re some urban locations. Thus Lott uses the term "in all or virtually all the state." Those minimal location limitations (maybe 1% of the state at most) do not apply to people having permits in those states, which are issued on a "shall issue" basis. Not sure if there have ever been any prosecutions or convictions of permitless carriers violating those limited locations.

"Or the 16th" if you use the list below as in Dave Workman's article, which excludes Montana as mentioned above where permitless carry is only valid in 99.4% of the state, several cities requiring permits to carry within their boundaries.

https://libertyparkpress.com/sweet-16-ky-joins-15-other-states-with-constitutional-carry/

Sweet 16: KY Joins 15 other States with ‘Constitutional Carry’

As promised, Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin has signed legislation to allow citizens over the age of 21 in the Commonwealth to carry a concealed firearm without a permit, bringing the number of states with so-called “Constitutional Carry” to 16.

The law takes effect in July. Bevin is the third governor this year to sign such legislation, the other two being South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt. All three are Republicans.

Kentucky has joined Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming, [all those states collectively known to Karl Rhoads, Chris Lee, Stanley Chang et al. as "the wild west"...] and gun owners in other states are quietly working toward the same end.