(LRC)  Several members of the Kentucky House have introduced a measure proposing comprehensive action to reduce gun violence.  Rep. George Brown Jr., D- Lexington,is the sponsor of House Bill 502. Co-sponsors  include: Reps. Jim Wayne, D-Louisville; Mary Lou Marzian, D-Louisville; Jeffery Donohue, D-Louisville; Joni Jenkins, D-Shively; and Kelly Flood, D-Lexington.

The bill includes provisions to allow local governments to regulate firearms.  It also  prohibits guns from college campuses, prohibits the sale of bump stocks, and implements licensing of gun owners and registration of firearm and ammunition.

If approved by lawmakers, the legislation will:

•  Include colleges and universities within the existing ban on firearms in schools.
•   Prohibit sales of bump stocks, which allow semiautomatic rifles to fire faster.
•   Require the safe storage of firearms through the use of gun locks or safes if children could have access to the weapons.
•   Require a judge when issuing an order of protection to consider whether a person against whom the order is entered should be prohibited from possessing a firearm.
•   Require judges in criminal cases where a person is found not guilty by reason of insanity to demand the surrender of the defendant’s firearms since these persons are barred by law from possessing a firearm.
•   Include physical injury to a minor of the intentional discharge of a firearm within the offense of assault in the second degree. This would cover the innocent child hit by the stray bullet from a drive-by shooting.
•   Create the offense of criminal purchase or disposal of a weapon to cover those who provide or dispose of weapons for persons such as felons who are prohibited from having a firearm to begin with.
•   Require the judge pronouncing a defendant guilty but mentally ill to demand the surrender of the person’s firearms.
•   Require the State Police to promulgate administrative regulations relating to the licensing of persons to possess firearms and assault weapons, the registration of firearms and assault weapons, and the logging of firearms and ammunition sales.
•   Allow local governments to implement firearm regulations, such as prohibiting guns in libraries or city council meetings.

Rep. Donohue noted that the legislation’s call to ban bump stocks would help prevent mass killings like the one in Las Vegas last year.  Rep. Flood said better efforts are needed to keep guns out of the hands of mentally ill individuals.