This bill lowers the age requirement to obtain an enhanced or concealed handgun carry permit from 21 years to 18 years of age, and also revises the following present law provisions:
(1) Under present law, a person commits an offense who carries, with the intent to go armed, a firearm or a club. It is an exception to this offense that a person is carrying, whether openly or concealed, a handgun and:
(A) The person is at least 21 years of age; or
(B) The person is at least 18 years of age and meets certain military-service related requirements.
This bill makes the above-described exception to the offense applicable to a person carrying a handgun if the person is at least 18 years of age. Accordingly, this bill removes the military-service related provisions.
(2) Under present law, a person who has a valid enhanced handgun carry permit or concealed handgun carry permit or who lawfully carries a handgun pursuant to the present law provision described above in (1) may, unless expressly prohibited by federal law, transport and store a firearm or firearm ammunition in the person's motor vehicle, while on or utilizing any public or private parking area, in certain circumstances. This bill specifies that this provision will not apply to a person who is under 21 years of age and transports or stores a firearm or firearm ammunition in the person's motor vehicle while on or utilizing a public or private parking area that is located on any public or private school campus, grounds, recreation area, athletic field or any other property owned, operated, or while in use by any board of education, school, college or university board of trustees, regents or directors for the administration of any public or private educational institution, unless the person:
(A) Is at least 18 years of age; and
(B) Is an honorably discharged or retired veteran of the United States armed forces; is an honorably discharged member of the army national guard, the army reserve, the navy reserve, the marine corps reserve, the air national guard, the air force reserve, or the coast guard reserve, who has successfully completed a basic training program; or is a member of the United States armed forces on active duty status or is a current member of the army national guard, the army reserve, the navy reserve, the marine corps reserve, the air national guard, the air force reserve, or the coast guard reserve, who has successfully completed a basic training program.
ON APRIL 21, 2022, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 1735, AS AMENDED.
AMENDMENT #1 deletes the provision of this bill that is described in (2) of the Bill Summary.

Statutes affected:
Current Version: 39-17-1307(g)(1), 39-17-1307, 39-17-1351(b), 39-17-1351, 39-17-1351(x)(1), 39-17-1313
Amended with HA0719 -- 04/21/2022: 39-17-1307(g)(1), 39-17-1307, 39-17-1351(b), 39-17-1351, 39-17-1351(x)(1), 39-17-1313