Senator Reginald Thomas, D-Lexington, has pre-filed legislation, which he plans to call the 'Trinity Gay Bill' to address the growing problem of gun violence.

Under Senator Thomas' legislation, urban-county governments and consolidated local governments, such as Lexington and Louisville, would be granted the ability to regulate firearms by ordinance. They also would be able to regulate the manufacture, sale, purchase, taxation, transfer, ownership, possession, carrying, storage, and transportation of firearms, firearms components, ammunition, and ammunition components, as long as it does not conflict with the U.S. Constitution.

Senator Thomas says he decided to do something about gun violence after attending three vigils in the last month for victims of gun violence. One victim was 15 years old; another was in her early twenties and pregnant, and the third was a father in his mid-twenties.

"It is time," he said. "No, it is past time that we addressed this problem. Gun violence is a growing problem everywhere, and Kentucky is not an exception. Too many lives are ending in tragedy because of gun violence. We must look seriously at this issue and find a way to reduce the number of victims of gun violence."

Under the legislation, an ordinance regulating firearms or ammunition that is issued by the council of a consolidated local government shall apply within the jurisdiction boundaries of all cities within that unified local government, and no city within the consolidated local governments shall preempt the controls.

"The intent of this legislation is not to take people's guns, but rather to put into place regulations that in essence will save lives," said Senator Thomas. "I do not want, nor do I want anyone else, to have to mourn the loss of another young person or an elderly person whose life was cut short by gun violence."

BR 172 will be considered during the 2017 Regular Session, which will convene Tuesday, Jan. 3.