Kentucky Carrying Concealed Deadly Weapons License

This is an 8 hour class as prescribed by the Kentucky Department Of Criminal Justice Training. This Class consist of approximately 6 hours of class instruction and 2 hours of range time and covers such areas as:

• Safety at Home, in Class, and on the Range
• Pistol and Revolver Nomenclature and Function
• Fundamentals of Firearms
• Weapon Cleaning and Storage
• Concealed Carry Options
• Ky Statutes on Firearms
• Legal Liabilities

Cost: $75.00 (+/10.00 range and materials fee)

Additional Requirements and Information

Upon completion of this class the student will receive a certificate of completion from Iron Sight Defense and will have met all of the requirements set forth by the Department of Criminal Justice Training and the State of Kentucky to obtain and submit an application to the Sheriff of your county of residence.

The applicant will receive notification by mail of their completion and registration of the CCDW program from the Department of Criminal Justice Training. The applicant will then be required to take said notification to the Sheriff of the county in which the applicant resides, and make a payment of $20.00 to the sheriff of your county of residence. The applicant must also provide a check or money order for $40.00 made payable to the Department of State Police (this portion of the CCDW fee is allocated to the KSP and the Administrative Office of the Courts by statute). The Kentucky State Police will collect the portion of the fee designated for the Administrative Office of the Courts on its behalf.

The application will be forwarded to the Kentucky State Police by the Sheriff. Upon records check and approval, the applicant will recieve notification by mail that his/her license is availible to be picked up at the Sheriff Office. A Kentucky CCDW license is valid for 5 yrs.

Kentucky recognizes and reciprocates Concealed Weapons License from other states.  To see a map of these states please click HERE

Criteria for a Personal Defense Weapon

1. Your personal defense weapon should be as large and as powerful as you can shoot accurately and carry with a reasonable degree of comfort and concealment.
2. Your personal defense weapon should fit your hand perfectly.
3. You should be able to manipulate the controls of your weapon with either hand alone.
4. Your personal defense weapon should be of sturdy construction and be able to withstand heavy use and rough handling.
5. Your personal defense weapon should be accurate enough to consistently hit a target the size of a saucer at 10 yards quickly.
6. Select a caliber for which ammunition is readily available and of a resonable defensive nature.
7. A good quality holster must be available for the model of pistol you intend to carry.

 CCDW License Applicant Requirements

1. Be a resident of Kentucky for at least six months prior to filing the application or a member of the Armed Forces of the United States who is on active duty, who is at the time of application assigned to a military posting in Kentucky, and who has been assigned to a posting in Kentucky for six months or longer immediately preceding the filing of the application; and
2. Be twenty-one (21) years of age or older; and
3. Not be under indictment for, or have been convicted of, a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year; and
4. Not be a fugitive from justice; and
5. Not be an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance; and
6. Not have been adjudicated as a mental defective or have committed to a mental institution; and
7. Not have been discharged from the Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions; and
8. Not be subject to a domestic violence order or emergency protective order; and
9. Not have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence (see section below for discussion of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence); and
10. Not be prohibited from the purchase, receipt or possession of firearms, ammunition or both pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 922(g), 18 U.S.C. 922(n), or applicable state law; and
11. Not have been committed to a state or federal facility for abuse of a controlled substance or convicted of a misdemeanor relating to a controlled substance within the three-year period immediately preceding the date the application was submitted; and
12. Not have two or more convictions for violating KRS 189A.010 (Operating motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or other substance which impairs driving ability) within the three (3) years immediately preceding the date on which the application is submitted; and
13. Not have been committed as an alcoholic pursuant to KRS Chapter 222 or similar laws of another state within the three (3) year period immediately preceding the date on which the application is submitted; and
14. Not owe a child support arrearage which equals or exceeds the cumulative amount which would be owed after one (1) year of nonpayment; and
15. Have complied with any subpoena or warrant relating to child support or paternity proceedings; and
16. Have not been convicted of a violation of KRS 508.030 (Assault in the fourth degree) or 508.080 (Terroristic Threatening in the third degree) within the three years immediately preceding the date on which the application is submitted; and
17. Demonstrate competence with a firearm by successful completion of a firearms safety or training course offered or approved by the Department of Criminal Justice Training.

NOTE – ONLY SOME OF THE OFFENSES LISTED ABOVE HAVE A THREE-YEAR LIMITATION. OTHER OFFENSES, SUCH AS FELONIES AND MISDEMEANOR CRIMES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DO NOT HAVE A TIME LIMIT. IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF A FELONY OR MISDEMEANOR CRIME OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, YOU ARE INELIGIBLE FOR A CCDW LICENSE AND ARE PROHIBITED FROM POSSESSING A FIREARM UNDER FEDERAL LAW, NO MATTER HOW LONG AGO YOU WERE CONVICTED.

Felony Convictions

If you have been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, i.e., a felony, you are not only ineligible to possess a CCDW license; federal law prohibits you from possessing a firearm. Individuals subject to this disability should immediately lawfully dispose of their firearms and ammunition. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) recommends that individuals who have been convicted of a felony surrender their firearms and ammunition to a third party, such as their attorney, local police agency, or a federal firearms dealer. The continued possession of firearms or ammunition by persons under this disability is a violation of federal law and may subject the possessor to criminal penalties as well as seizure and forfeiture of the firearms and ammunition.

Diversion

Those on pretrial diversion for disqualifying offenses are not eligible for a CCDW license.

 Misdemeanor Crimes of Domestic Violence (MCDV)

It is illegal under federal law for any person convicted of a “misdemeanor crime of domestic violence” to ship, transport, possess, or receive firearms or ammunition (18 U.S.C. 922). A “misdemeanor crime of domestic violence” is defined in 18 U.S.C. 921(33) as an offense that:

1. Is a misdemeanor under federal or state law; and
2. Has, as an element, the use or attempted use of physical force, or the threatened use of a deadly weapon, committed by a current or former spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabiting with or has cohabited with the victim as a spouse, parent, or guardian, or by a person similarly situated to a spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim.

The following misdemeanors under Kentucky law are deemed to be possible misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence. If you have been convicted of any of the following offenses, your application must be reviewed to determine whether your offense involved domestic violence:

• KRS 508.030 Assault in the fourth degree (note that this is a three year state disqualifier even if domestic violence was not involved).
• KRS 508.040 Assault under Extreme Emotional Disturbance
• KRS 508.120 Criminal Abuse in the third degree
• KRS 509.030 Unlawful Imprisonment in the second degree
• KRS 510.120 Sexual Abuse in second degree
• KRS 510.130 Sexual Abuse in third degree
• KRS 510.140 Sexual Misconduct
• KRS 525.060 Disorderly Conduct
• KRS 525.070 Harassment

Note that there is no three-year limitation as with state disqualifiers. If you have been convicted of any of the above offenses, a domestic violence determination must be made regardless of how long ago you were convicted. A domestic violence determination must also be made if you were convicted of similar misdemeanors in federal court or another state or territory. You are not disqualified, even if domestic violence was involved, if your conviction was expunged, set aside or pardoned. If your conviction is determined to be a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, you are not only ineligible to possess a CCDW license; federal law prohibits you from possessing a firearm. Individuals subject to this disability should immediately lawfully dispose of their firearms and ammunition. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) recommends that individuals who have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence surrender their firearms and ammunition to a third party, such as their attorney, local police agency, or a federal firearms dealer. The continued possession of firearms or ammunition by persons under this disability is a violation of federal law and may subject the possessor to criminal penalties as well as seizure and forfeiture of the firearms and ammunition.