Governor Joe Manchin (D) recently signed into law House Bill 2348--NRA-backed "Emergency Powers" legislation that will prevent state or local government authorities from confiscating lawfully owned firearms during declared states of emergency, such as occurred in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. Governor Manchin’s action makes West Virginia the thirteenth state to enact this type of legislation since the devastating hurricane, joining Alaska, Idaho, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Virginia, Louisiana, Michigan, and Georgia in passing such measures.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the citizens of New Orleans lost their right to defend themselves from thugs and looters when law enforcement systematically confiscated legally owed firearms from those who were trying to protect themselves, their families and their property. To ensure this never happens again, NRA made passage of "Emergency Powers" legislation our top priority.

Please be sure to call Governor Manchin and your State Legislator and thank them for supporting our Second Amendment rights and passing House Bill 2348. This vital bill will ensure that West Virginians will never have to face the draconian confiscation of firearms when they need them the most. For contact information for Governor Manchin and your State Legislators, please click here: www.capwiz.com/nra/state/main/?district=10&azip=20152&state=WV&view=myofficials.

For more information on the "Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act," please visit www.nraila.org. To learn more about the confiscations conducted in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, please visit http://www.givethemback.com/.