FRANKFORT, Ky. (Oct. 8, 2025) – Attorney General Russell Coleman and Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorney Gerina D. Whethers announced today a new ruling from the Kentucky Court of Appeals will keep convicted felons from possessing firearms in Kentucky.
The appellate court overturned a Jefferson Circuit Court ruling, which found a state law barring felons from possessing firearms was unconstitutional. In that case, the Circuit Court stopped prosecutors from moving forward with a felon-in-possession charge against Jecory Lamont Frazier.
Frazier has a prior felon-in-possession conviction, a felony drug-trafficking conviction and multiple convictions for fraudulent use of a credit card.
Attorney General Coleman and Commonwealth’s Attorney Whethers filed the appeal to defend the rule of law and uphold the Kentucky statute to protect families across the Commonwealth.
“We can fully support the Second Amendment – I certainly do – and still recognize the constitutionality of laws that keep felons from possessing deadly weapons,” said Attorney General Russell Coleman. “I’m proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with Commonwealth’s Attorney Whethers to protect Louisville families, reduce threats to our law enforcement officers, and keep violent criminals off our streets.”
Justice Scalia’s landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding the individual right to keep and bear arms, District of Columbia v. Heller, specifically noted “nothing in our opinion should be taken to cast doubt on longstanding prohibitions on the possession of firearms by felons.”
“The safety of our community is our number one charge and will always be our priority. There is a stark difference between having law-abiding citizens exercise their constitutional rights—which I back fully—and enabling the most dangerous of criminals to run the streets armed,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Gerina D. Whethers. “We respect that the Court of Appeals also recognizes this distinction. I am especially thankful that Attorney General Coleman, his team, and ours could work together to affirm a common-sense legal outcome.”
Read the opinion.