House Bill 321 would let 18-20-year-olds obtain a provisional concealed carry license.
Bill sponsor Rep. Savannah Maddox argued the age group is already allowed to possess the firearms and leaving restrictions in place that prevent concealed carry runs counter to the Second Amendment.
"We recognize their adulthood and the responsibilities that come with it in every other area, but we deny them the ability to protect themselves and their loved ones whenever they step outside their home," she said.
Maddox said the provisional license would require a background check, training, and proficiency in handling a firearm.
But Lexington Democratic Rep. Lindsey Burke was among the three"no" votes who were skeptical it would result in a safer state for young adults.
"I'm concerned that what training does, in the short amount of time that it happens, doesn't mature an 18-year-old brain into a 21-year-old brain," she said. "I worry that young people are at risk of self-harm, not even thinking about accidents."
The bill now moves to the full House for consideration.