By Heather Marchese, 1 Million Moms Against Gun Control
Last week, a bill authored by a grassroots gun rights group, West Virginia Citizens Defense League, regarding constitutional carry legislation–Senate Bill 347–overwhelmingly passed the West Virginia state House by a final vote of 71-21. SB 347 is an update to concealed carry statutes in West Virginia that would recognize a citizen’s right to legally carry concealed without having to obtain a Concealed Handgun License (CHL).
SB 347 gives citizens the freedom to choose the best method of carrying, based on their attire, gender and/or physical attributes. I prefer to open carry, but in winter, I become a criminal if my jacket happens to cover my firearm. Also important, this legislation would keep in place the current permitting system so that people who obtain a permit could still enjoy the reciprocity agreements that West Virginia has with other states across the country. It is important to know that West Virginia is an open carry state, with no residency or training requirements.
Meet Joe Manchin, US Senator from West Virginia who is a lead co-sponsor on Senator John Cornyn’s National Conceal Carry Reciprocity bill, which would allow individuals with concealed carry privileges in their home state to exercise those rights in any other state that also has concealed carry laws. Now, Senator Manchin spoke against SB347 with this reasoning:
“I strongly oppose SB 347 that irresponsibly removes permit and safety training requirements for people who carry concealed weapons #gunsense“
That’s right. Joe Manchin says “Gunsense” is allowing non West Virginia residents from states like Pennsylvania, where there are no training requirements in order to get a carry permit, to carry concealed here in West Virginia.
Yet Manchin doesn’t trust his own citizens to carry concealed in our own state without a permit to prove we’ve met proper training requirements, so he’s urging Governor Tomblin to veto our constitutional carry bill, and allowing his image to be plastered all over the internet in ads paid for by Everytown Action Fund, all while invoking Shannon’s “gunsense” nonsense. Why? We suspect it has everything to do with a fundraiser Mike Bloomberg held for Joe Manchin back in 2013 at a whopping $1000/plate at Bloomberg’s New York Mansion.
Mailings are coming to West Virginia citizens with blatant lies and skewed polls stating 83% of West Virginians believe people carrying concealed handguns in public should be require to have a permit. Question for Everytown, where did you get that number from? As we show, several polls from several local media outlets in West Virginia are showing approximately 72% of citizens are in favor of SB347.
On the left, “Everytown” On the right, BDTOnline, Wedgies, West Virginia Gazette, and The Journal (Martinsburg) Senator Manchin, I thought you said our state wasn’t for sale to special interest groups? We the people have spoken, and we urge Governor Tomblin to sign SB347.
Heather Marchese is the founder of 1 Million Moms Against Gun Control – like their group on Facebook – click here to support The Moms.