Kentucky HB 749 Follows West Virginia in Expanding Citizens’ Access to Modern Machine Guns

In a decisive transfer that reaffirms Kentucky’s proud heritage as a constitutional carry state and a bulwark for unalienable rights, Rep. TJ Roberts (R-Burlington) launched Home Invoice 749 on February 25, 2026. This landmark laws establishes an Workplace of Public Protection throughout the Kentucky State Police, tasked with buying and transferring trendy, select-fire machine weapons on to law-abiding residents. HB 749 is nothing wanting revolutionary: it weaponizes a transparent federal exemption to dismantle the factitious, unconstitutional obstacles erected by the 1986 Hughes Modification, restoring to Kentuckians the very arms the Founding Fathers supposed for a well-regulated militia and the safety of a free state.

Rep. Roberts, a steadfast defender of the Second Modification who simply days in the past voted in opposition to HB 299, the GOP-backed invoice criminalizing Glock switches, has lengthy argued that law-abiding residents deserve parity with the very instruments carried by legislation enforcement and the army. “Federal legislation explicitly permits states to promote machine weapons to their residents,” Roberts declared upon submitting the measure. His invoice does precisely that, sidestepping the Hughes Modification’s post-1986 registration ban by means of 18 U.S.C. § 922(o)(2)(A), which carves out transfers “to or by” a state or below its authority. No extra overpaying for pre-1986 “transferables” that now fetch $25,000 to $60,000 on the collector market.

Kentucky residents who move a regular background verify might quickly have the ability to buy true military-pattern full-auto firearms at affordable costs, AR-15/M16 platforms, squad automated weapons (SAW), submachine weapons, and the arms “in frequent use” for militia functions.

The construction of HB 749 is elegant, environment friendly, and maximally freedom-oriented. It creates the Workplace of Public Protection contained in the Division of Kentucky State Police, empowering the director to acquire machine weapons “of like variety” to these issued to legislation enforcement and the U.S. Armed Forces. Purchases will prioritize in-state producers wherever attainable, boosting Kentucky’s firearms business and protecting tax {dollars} circulating regionally. Certified individuals, any grownup not prohibited from proudly owning firearms below state or federal legislation, can purchase these weapons at State Police services after a clear NICS verify. Upon switch, patrons obtain an official state-issued certificates confirming the firearm was acquired “by” the Commonwealth, offering ironclad safety below the federal exemption.

Subsequent transfers between certified Kentuckians are streamlined by means of the identical workplace for a modest administrative payment, guaranteeing these trendy arms stay in circulation amongst accountable house owners. If a purchaser later turns into prohibited, the invoice requires the return of the firearm inside seven days. Returned or forfeited weapons are resold slightly than destroyed, maximizing entry and worth for residents. A devoted Public Protection Fund, seeded by an affordable surcharge on preliminary gross sales and capped administrative charges, covers operations with out burdening basic taxpayers, a fiscally conservative masterstroke.

For many years, the Hughes Modification, rammed by means of on a disputed voice vote in 1986, has handled Americans as second-class topics, denying them the rapid-fire functionality that criminals and terrorists receive illegally with ease. Pre-1986 machine weapons are collector objects; post-1986 fashions manufactured for civilians have been verboten. HB 749 flips that script. By performing “by” the state, Kentucky nullifies the sensible impact of the ban for its residents whereas remaining totally compliant with federal statute. Federal courts have by no means invalidated correctly structured state switch packages below this exemption, and with Bruen’s history-and-tradition check now the legislation of the land, machine weapons invented in 1718 and utilized by American militias for hundreds of years sail by means of constitutional scrutiny.

Kentucky’s daring step carefully mirrors and builds upon West Virginia’s pioneering Senate Invoice 1701, launched simply days earlier by Sens. Chris Rose and Zack Maynard with drafting help from Gun House owners of America (GOA).

That Mountain State laws created its personal Workplace of Public Protection to promote similar courses of contemporary machine weapons to certified residents, proving the mannequin works in Appalachian terrain the place rugged individualism runs deep. HB 749 adopts the identical confirmed framework however tailors it to Kentucky’s bigger inhabitants and strong State Police infrastructure, probably making implementation even smoother throughout the Bluegrass. The place West Virginia led by lighting the fuse, Kentucky is able to detonate the powder keg of restored liberty.

Critics from the gun-control foyer will predictably screech about “arming the streets” and “blood within the holler.” Their hysteria collapses below primary info. These gross sales require the identical rigorous background checks as each lawful firearm buy. Criminals already possess full-auto functionality by means of unlawful conversions, 3D-printed elements, and black-market imports, the very gadgets HB 299 futilely targets. Regulation-abiding Kentuckians, nonetheless, have been priced out of contemporary defensive arms by federal overreach.

A well-armed populace is the last word deterrent: research from constitutional carry states present violent crime charges dropping as lawful gun possession surges. Historic precedent is overwhelming, from the minutemen at Harmony who carried the period’s most superior arms, to the Swiss citizen-soldiers who hold army select-fire rifles of their houses as we speak.

The Second Modification was by no means about searching geese or plinking on the vary; it was written to make sure that the individuals might meet authorities drive with equal firepower if tyranny ever threatened.

Economically, HB 749 is pure gold for Kentucky. Reasonably priced machine weapons will drive demand, spurring funding in native producers, gunsmiths, and ranges. Freedom-minded People from restrictive states will journey right here for coaching and purchases, boosting tourism and hospitality. Income from the Public Protection Fund strengthens public security infrastructure with out new taxes. And in contrast to the elitist pre-1986 market that reserves full-auto possession for millionaires and celebrities, this program democratizes entry precisely because the Founders supposed after they rejected standing armies in favor of an armed citizenry.

Rep. Roberts’ consistency shines by means of. His opposition to HB 299 wasn’t about defending criminals; it was about rejecting feel-good infringements that fail to disarm the dangerous guys whereas burdening the nice. By introducing HB 749 instantly after that vote, he sends an unmistakable message: Kentucky is not going to erode the Second Modification; it can broaden and restore it. The invoice’s findings implicitly echo the state structure’s strong safety of the suitable to maintain and bear arms “for the protection of themselves and the state.”

Passage of HB 749 would mark Kentucky because the second state in a quickly rising freedom motion. Texas, Idaho, Montana, and others are watching. GOA and grassroots patriots throughout the Commonwealth are already mobilizing in assist. Contact your state consultant. Testify at committee hearings. The window is open now, whereas Republicans management the legislature, and Governor Beshear’s veto may be overridden.

The tree of liberty is watered not simply with the blood of patriots, however with the resolute motion of legislators prepared at hand residents the trendy instruments of self-defense and resistance. Kentucky’s HB 749 does exactly that. By following West Virginia’s brave instance in SB 1701, the Bluegrass State is declaring: Americans are usually not topics to be disarmed by federal fiat. We’re sovereign individuals, entrusted by the Structure with the arms obligatory to stay free.

That is the struggle for the Republic. Kentucky is answering the decision. The remainder of America ought to take word and observe.

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About John Crump

Mr. Crump is an NRA teacher and a constitutional activist. John has written about firearms, interviewed individuals from all walks of life, and on the Structure. John lives in Northern Virginia together with his spouse and sons, observe him on X at @crumpyss, or at www.crumpy.com.