West Virginia: Bills on the Move in Charleston

Contact your legislators in support of three important pro-gun bills before Friday’s deadline

Late last week and early this week, multiple pro-gun and hunting reform bills have seen passage in committees and on the House floor.

Yesterday, House Bill 4309, sponsored by Delegate Rupie Phillips (D-24), passed in the House of Delegates by a 96-0 vote.  HB 4309 would permit a person to legally store a firearm in a private vehicle on state Capitol grounds provided that firearm is locked away and out of view.  It now goes to the state Senate where it will be assigned to a committee for a hearing.

Last week, House Bill 4431, sponsored by Delegate Randy Swartzmiller (D-1), passed in the House Judiciary Committee and goes to the House floor for consideration.  HB 4431 would clarify the distinction between hunters and shooters in the field and would allow shooters who are in possession of a firearm, in or near the woods, to be protected from unnecessary interference by a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) officer based solely on possession of a firearm.  Please contact your state Delegate(s) and ask them to vote YES on HB 4431.  Contact information for members of the West Virginia House of Delegates can be found here.

Also last week, Senate Joint Resolution 10, sponsored by state Senator John Unger (D-16), passed in the Senate Judiciary Committee by voice vote and now goes to the Senate Finance Committee for further consideration.  As introduced, SJR 10 would protect the right of West Virginians to hunt and fish, ensure access to hunting and fishing for future generations, and recognize the need for continued management of the state’s fish and game.  A last-minute committee substitute was adopted that weakened the original language but your NRA is working hard to amend this change and expects a positive reversal in the Senate Finance Committee.  Please contact members of the Senate Finance Committee and ask them to vote YES on the NRA-supported amendment to SJR 10.  Contact information for members of the Senate Finance Committee can be found here.

With the deadline for committees to report bills approaching this Friday, February 21, it is critical that you contact state legislators referenced above in support of these bills.

Please stay tuned to your email inbox and www.nraila.org for further updates.