West Virginia Hunters May Get Concealed Carry

West Virginia Gazette - "In The Outdoors" ^ | 3/17/02 | Andy Hansroth (andyhansroth@wvgazette.com)

[RFP]

[a bill, West Virginia HB 4315], will allow anyone with a concealed carry permit to carry a sidearm while hunting, hiking, or camping. Prior to this revision, DNR law (Chapter 20 of the state code) conflicted with state law on the carry of firearms. DNR law claimed it was illegal for a hunter to carry a concealed firearm while hunting. The revision is a good one and one Gov. Wise should sign. It allows landowners, for example, to patrol their own lands while hunting, and to carry a loaded sidearm in the vehicle for protection - which was already allowed by state law in every situation except hunting.

And talking about carrying guns, a couple of bikers in Pocahontas County last week probably wish they'd had a gun. They were attacked by a rabid bobcat and ended up having to stomp it and kill it with a rock. Both, according to AP, are undergoing a series of rabies shots because they were scratched and bitten.

Now, that sounds like a story you'd read in Outdoor Life's "This Happened To Me," - and not one you'll read every day in your newspaper.

[RFP]

...and not one you'll read every day in your newspaper.

Well ain't that the truth! Tough bikers WITHOUT GUNS? You just know that the biased AP article didn't mention the "a gun would have likely prevented their injuries" angle.

[RFP]

"It allows landowners, for example, to patrol their own lands while hunting, and to carry a loaded sidearm in the vehicle for protection"

"Don't mess with West Virginia" pings

[mountaineer]

Great, I hope Wise signs it.

[elwoodp]

I wholeheartedly support the Second Amendment. And, I equally support the right to carry concealed weapons. That said, why is there something just a little unsettling about the thought of a bunch of West Virginny mountain people coming into town with guns tucked under their t-shirts?

[tbg681]

Good.

The first thing the folks from West Virginia can do is start shooting everything that has the name "Robert C. Byrd" affixed to it.

Oh wait -- even the US Army doesn't have enough ammo for that!!

Nevermind. ;-)

[gatex]

"...why is there something just a little unsettling about the thought of a bunch of West Virginny mountain people coming into town with guns tucked under their t-shirts?"

I give up -- why ?

[joeyman]

When you leave the range or come back from hunting at night, while carrying a rifle, it would make me feel a lot safer having a sidearm available. The rifle is never loaded, therefore it is reduced to the status of a club, the pistol however....

[RFP]

start shooting everything that has the name "Robert C. Byrd" affixed

or the name "John D. Rockefeller" - as in "JDR Science and Technology Center." Jaybird isn't too far behind his mentor, Byrdropping, in this area.

[RLK]

I have a West Virginia CCW. It allows me to carry a concealed handgun anywhere with the exception of banks and government offices.

[RLK]

That said, why is there something just a little unsettling about the thought of a bunch of West Virginny mountain people coming into town with guns tucked under their t-shirts?

--------------------

It happens all the time in Romney, regardless of hunting season. I have been at Shetz gas stations nd seen people wearing concealed side arms. Even one of the local ministers, who is also a NRA instructor, is routinely armed. At times an estimated 10% of the population on the street is carrying a pistol. That doesn't count pistols or shotguns under front seats. The crime rate is low. It isn't a place to try to hold up a 7-11 or a gas station.

[Travis McGee]

It isn't a place to try to hold up a 7-11 or a gas station.

Certainly not twice.

[mountaineer]

Banks? Oops, my bad.

[RLK]

I have my own firing range here. Because of age and bad eyes I'm reduced to shooting at three inch targets at 75 feet.

[Travis McGee]

That'll do nicely.

(+)

[RLK]

Not as nicely as when I used to shoot free style combat pistol at 100 yards. At 70 years old my mother could hit a pack of cigarettes at 100-150 feet.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

When the every deer has to fear that the next hunter he meets may be carrying concealed then the woods will be safer for the rest of us.LOL

[Squantos]

Each states CHL laws are infected with a lot of .....""if you do this while juggling that over there your going to jail""..... sort of traps.........

One of the worst I believe is that if you commit what is a simple class d misdemeanor "and" your packing your pistola with CHL in most cases it is possible to up the class d violation up a notch or worse. It's almost sad that we are so consumed , driven and subjected with such unconstitutional straw laws.........

Just my rant, Stay Safe !~

[Travis McGee]

Not me, but I've known folks for whom .22LR was plenty of gun.

Folks who can hit the X-ring off hand in timed fire can also pick which eye.

[RFP]

BUMP