Kentucky

In Your State

Kentucky

Kentucky has had 31 mass shootings since 2020 and guns are the number one leading cause of death of children. Lawmakers must do more to keep kids safe from gun violence. Learn more about what you can do to help in your state and community.

Take Action Now

Join us right now and urge your representatives to make Kentucky safer. Ask them to pass the “Act Relating to Crisis Aversion and Rights Retention” (CARR), (SB13).

Kentucky had the

13th

highest firearm death rate in the U.S. in 2021.

Gun fire was the

1st

leading cause of death for Kentucky children in 2021.

Kentucky had the

13th

highest firearm death rate in the U.S. in 2021.

Gun fire was the

1st

leading cause of death for Kentucky children in 2021.

Take Action Now

Join us right now and urge your representatives to make Kentucky safer. Ask them to pass the “Act Relating to Crisis Aversion and Rights Retention” (CARR), (SB13).

Pass Crisis Aversion and Rights Retention (CARR)

Crisis Aversion and Rights Retention Orders do exactly what they say. They prevent tragedy while protecting an individual’s right to own firearms. They allow gun owners and those with access to guns to be temporarily separated from firearms in a moment of crisis. This only happens if they specifically express thoughts of hurting themselves or others. By getting help before things turn tragic, temporary transfer allows gun owners in crisis to get help before they misuse their guns and lose the right to own their firearms entirely.

Take Action

children died by gun fire in 2021

534

Kentuckians died by suicide with a firearm in 2021.

mass shootings in 2023.

Mass Shooting in Kentucky

Among the mass shootings in Kentucky was the Old National Bank killings in Louisville. Five people were killed and eight injured, including two police officers, in April 2023 in Louisville, Kentucky. A 25-year-old bank employee armed with a rifle opened fire at his workplace, killing five people. This included a close friend of Kentucky’s governor and the incident was livestreamed in Instagram, shocking Kentuckians and our nation. Police arrived as shots were still being fired inside the bank and killed the shooter during an exchange of gunfire.

Read our Statement

Gun Laws in Kentucky

Enhanced background checks

Restricts certain semi-automatic rifles

Secure storage

Temporary transfer

Kentucky Partnerships

Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund has worked alongside local Kentucky families, volunteers and organizations since the early days of our movement. Together, we’re finding common ground to end gun violence.

“I love partnering with Sandy Hook Promise because we are both aligned in our vision of bipartisan work to reduce gun death and injury in the state of Kentucky.” Whitney Austin, gun violence survivor and executive director of Whitney Strong. The Kentucky-based organization is dedicated to reducing gun violence by promoting, advocating and supporting responsible gun ownership. Learn more.

Want to get more involved with Sandy Hook Promise and help create change in Kentucky?

Sign up to become a Promise Leader. Promise Leaders are dedicated Sandy Hook Promise volunteers who take meaningful action to keep children safe. By volunteering, you play a powerful role in creating safer schools, homes and communities.

Volunteer

Our Impact in Kentucky

Throughout Kentucky, Sandy Hook Promise has engaged youth & adults in our mission and prevention programs.

106k

Supporters in the state

212

Volunteer Promise Leaders who help raise awareness & engage communities

92k

Trained students and adults in 228 schools to Know the Signs and prevent violence

377

Students involved in 12 SAVE Promise Clubs throughout the state

Prevent gun violence in Kentucky

You can help make Kentucky a safe place for kids and for your whole community. We urge the legislature to pass proven policy solutions, including emergency temporary transfer, secure storage, and closing the stranger-to-stranger loophole to prevent gun violence and tragedy. These policies keep the public safe from harm while protecting individual rights.

State Issue

Pass Temporary Transfer Laws

Everyone experiences temporary moments of crisis. When that crisis is combined with a firearm, the outcomes can be deadly. Temporary transfer supports gun owners in crisis while protecting their rights and gets them help before things turn tragic.

Take Action

State Issue

Close Dangerous Loopholes

A deadly loophole allows guns to be sold between a seller and a buyer who don’t know each other – and no background check is required. Kentucky can close this “stranger-to-stranger” loophole and expand background checks to prevent dangerous people from buying guns.

Take Action

State Issue

Pass Secure Storage Laws

Too often, children accidentally find firearms in their home. This can lead to the death of themselves and family members. Secure storage laws can prevent these tragedies and make it easier for gun owners to keep firearms away from their young sons and daughters.

Take Action

“We are proud to work with the bipartisan champions to ensure we're doing everything we can to protect our kids and that millions more students will be trained to know the signs of violence and act to save lives. Our work does not end here, we will continue to bring our prevention programs to schools and communities across the country and advocate for life-saving policies.”

Mark BardenSandy Hook Promise Co-Founder and Co-CEO