CCDW Requirements

Kentucky’s license to carry concealed deadly weapons law became effective October 1, 1996 and is contained in KRS 237.110 through 237.136.  The licenses are issued and renewed by The Kentucky State Police.

The laws are wordy and tedious to read, so I'll summarize.  Granted, these rules really only affect those of us following them, and not criminals who are going to do what they want regardless of a license or law.  

The law itself is in plain text, my comments are in italics.

The applicant for a carry concealed deadly weapon (CCDW) license must:

• Meet one of the following residence requirements:
  
  1. United States citizen who has been a resident of Kentucky for six (6) months or longer;
  2. US citizen in on active duty in the Armed Forces, assigned to a posting in the Commonwealth for six (6) months or longer;
  3. Is lawfully admitted to the United States, is permitted by federal law to purchase a firearm, and has been a resident of this Commonwealth for six (6) months or longer;
  4. Is lawfully admitted to the United States, is permitted by federal law to purchase a firearm, is, assigned to a military posting in the Commonwealth for six (6) months or longer
• Not under indictment for, or convicted of, a crime punishable by imprisonment for more than one year;
• Not a fugitive from justice; wouldn't this be a great way to get found?
• Not an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance; are you going to admit to your addiction?
• Not adjudicated as a mental defective or committed to a mental institution;
• Not dishonorably discharged from the Armed Forces;
• Not be subject to a domestic violence order or emergency protective order or convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence; good, this keeps more women safe!
• Not be prohibited from the purchase, receipt or possession of firearms and/or ammunition under federal or state law;
• Not committed to a state or federal facility for abuse of alcohol or a controlled substance or convicted of a misdemeanor relating to a controlled substance within the previous three years;
• Not have two or more convictions for operating motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol within the last three years;
• Not owe a child support which equals or greater than one year of nonpayment;
• Have complied with any subpoena or warrant relating to child support or paternity proceedings;
• Have convicted of a violation of assault in the fourth degree or terroristic threatening in the third degree in the previous three years;
• 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.

The State Police Website also makes it very clear that if you have been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor domestic violence you are not only ineligible to possess a CCDW license; federal law prohibits you from possessing a firearm.