In a 29-8 vote Thursday, the Kentucky Senate approved a bill calling for the elimination of permits for carrying concealed weapons in the state.

Kentucky already lets gun owners carry firearms openly without a permit.

The sponsor of the concealed-carry bill noted that only law-abiding citizens are currently required to pay a fee and take a firearms-safety course in order to carry concealed weapons.

"Criminals, on the other hand, already carry concealed weapons without permits," Sen. Brandon Smith, a Republican from Hazard, told the Courier Journal of Louisville.

"Criminals ... already carry concealed weapons without permits." — Kentucky state Sen. Brandon Smith

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Art Thomm, state director for the National Rifle Association, testified in support of the bill. He said that Kentucky gun owners currently may openly carry a firearm in the state but must have a permit if it is carried under a coat.

“This bill just decriminalizes wearing a coat in the state of Kentucky," Thomm said, according to the newspaper.

But one Republican state senator said he was concerned about the bill also eliminating the six-hour gun-safety course that is currently required for gun owners.

Sen. Danny Carroll argued that the training is important in order to maximize public safety.

Danny Cope, a firearms instructor, former police officer and advocate of Second Amendment rights, said he agreed.

“Probably 70 percent of all of the students I have taught were not familiar with handguns and had no working knowledge of a handgun,” Cope told WLWT-TV of Cincinnati.

“Probably 70 percent of all of the students I have taught were not familiar with handguns and had no working knowledge of a handgun.” — Danny Cope, firearms instructor, former police officer and advocate of Second Amendment rights

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The proposal now moves on to the Kentucky House for debate.

In recent weeks, several other states have taken action regarding proposals for eliminating gun-related permits.

For example: On Wednesday, a similar bill was approved by Oklahoma’s state House.

In January, South Dakota’s Republican Gov. Kristi Noem signed into law a bill that removed permit requirements for that state’s gun owners to carry and conceal their weapons.