Today, House Bill 4310 passed in the West Virginia House Judiciary Committee by a voice vote and now awaits consideration by the full state House of Delegates. HB 4310, sponsored by Delegate Rupie Phillips (D-24), would ensure the confidentiality of personal information of all current and renewing applicants for deadly weapons permits. Additionally, it would make the personal information of those persons who have earned a concealed deadly weapons permit private to everyone other than law enforcement agencies.
This legislation is essential for the protection of law-abiding gun owners in the Mountain State. Recently, there have been several instances of anti-gun media outlets publishing the names and addresses of concealed carry permit holders which jeopardizes the safety and violates the privacy of law-abiding citizens. Such publications place lawful permit holders at risk to criminals who may target their home to steal firearms. HB 4310 would ensure that this never happens in West Virginia. An individual exercising his or her Second Amendment rights should not be put at risk of being a victim of gun theft by the public exposure of their private information, and enactment of this permit confidentiality legislation will prevent such abuse. The privacy of carry permit holders in 43 states is now protected by laws similar to HB 4310.
The NRA thanks you for calling members of the House Judiciary Committee to help move this legislation. Please keep up the momentum and contact your Delegate(s) and urge them to support this essential pro-gun bill. Their contact information can be found here. Gun owners in West Virginia deserve to have their privacy protected -- SUPPORT HB 4310!
Don't forget to forward this alert to your family, friends and fellow gun owners throughout West Virginia and urge them to do the same.