WV: Constitutional Carry Goes to Governor Tomblin

Gun Watch ^ | 15 March, 2015 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

The West Virgina Senate has made short work of confirming the passage of SB 347, also known as the Constitutional Carry bill. The bill was amended in the House to change the minimum age for carrying concealed without a permit from 18 to 21. It passed the House by a 71 to 29 margin, with 51 Republicans and 20 Democrats voting for the bill. Yesterday, 13 March, the Senate confirmed the amended House vote. Observers at opencarry.org predict that Governor Tomblin will allow the bill to become law without his signature:

No one expects him to. He's expected to ignore it and let the 10 days run out until it becomes law.
I think it would be political suicide to veto it.

 The bill had passed the Senate on 27 February with a 32-2 vote.

Other observers expect Governor Earl Ray Tomblin to sign the bill into law.

 ©2015 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
Link to Gun Watch

 Update: Considerable resources are being expended to pressure Governor Tomblin to veto SB 347.  I have been informed that MoMs Demanding Action and Everytown are organizing phone banks to pressure the Governor, that even Joe Manchin is said to be pressuring him.  While the bill passed with veto-proof majorities, the Governor can  veto it.  The Legislature is no longer in session, so if the bill is vetoed, there will not be a way to override the veto.  As a Democrat, more pressure would need to be applied from the supporters of constitutional carry to prevent him from vetoing the bill.

[exnavy]

Good for the folks of West Virginia.

[chrisser]

The Legislature is no longer in session, so if the bill is vetoed, there will not be a way to override the veto.

It's only March. Won't they be in session sometime in the next nine months?

[buckalfa]

"It's only March. Won't they be in session sometime in the next nine months?"

The WV legislature closes shop today. The state constitution allows only for a 60 day session each year. The governor can call special sessions but those are rare. I believe the governor can veto and the legislature would not have a chance to override.

[meatloaf]

I’m not sure if that’s the case for those who want to carry out of state. WV has reciprocity with most of the states. If you can no longer get a concealed carry permit showing you’ve met statutory standards which the attorney generals of the states have ruled are equivalent, what happens then?

[marktwain]

The law does nothing to do away with the current permit.

It simply removes the requirement for the permit to carry concealed in West Virginia if you are over 21.

[chrisser]

The state constitution allows only for a 60 day session each year

That may explain why WV is so much less screwed up than so many other states.

Disclaimer - I start work there in 2 weeks and will be a WV resident starting the beginning of 2016.

[meatloaf]

Thanks for the clarification. I’m not the only one concerned about that aspect. An instructor for the CCW classes was wondering the same thing.

[exnavy]

The original intent of the second amendment was exactly this. No governmental agency should stop anyone, any age, from carrying, openly or concealed, anytime, anyplace.

[chaosagent]

The Texas Legislature meets for 140 days every other year.

[marktwain]

“The Texas Legislature meets for 140 days every other year.”

I believe you.