Constitutional Carry Bill Intro’d in West Virginia Senate

The latest attempt to expand constitutional carry comes to us from the Mountain State. SB347 would remove the penalties for carrying a concealed weapon, if the person is not otherwise prohibited from possessing firearms. From legiscan.com:

(a) Any person who carries a concealed deadly weapon without a state license or other lawful authorization established under the provisions of this code,

who is prohibited from possessing firearms under section seven of this article

shall be is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $1,000 and may be imprisoned in the county jail for not more than twelve months for the first offense; but upon conviction of a second or subsequent offense, he or she shall be is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be imprisoned in the penitentiary a state correctional facility not less than one nor more than five years and fined not less than $1,000 nor more than $5,000 . . .

The bill also removes the prohibition of carrying concealed handguns on the person while hunting.

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, a person licensed to carry a concealed weapon pursuant to the provisions of section four, article seven, chapter sixty-one of this code who is not prohibited at the time from possessing a firearm pursuant to the provisions of section seven, article seven, chapter sixty-one of this code or by any applicable federal law may carry a handgun in a concealed manner for self defense purposes while afield hunting, hiking, camping or in or on a motor vehicle.

The bill leaves in place the existing permit system so that those who wish to have a permit for reciprocity purposes will be able to do so.

The West Virgina Citizens Defense League has reported that NRA-ILA is fully on board and supporting the bill. Sponsors of the bill include at least two Democrat senators, making it truly bipartisan. The bill looks like it has a good chance of passage.  In 2012 Governor Earl Ray Tomblin signed a bill requiring confiscated firearm to be sold instead of destroyed.

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