Last week, Senate Bill 317 passed in the West Virginia House of Delegates by a 92-5 vote after passing unanimously in the state Senate on February 25, and it is now waiting to be signed into law by Governor Earl Ray Tomblin (D). SB 317, sponsored by state Senator John Unger (D-16), is a critical pro-gun reform bill which would bring Charleston and three other cities that currently have and enforce local gun control ordinances into uniformity with the rest of the state. Your NRA has worked very closely in Charleston with many state legislators this year to craft legislation that would clarify, change and restrict the municipal regulation of your gun rights. If enacted, SB 317 would do the following:
- Remove the “grandfathered” regulations in Charleston and other municipalities that allow regulations like a three-day “waiting period” on handguns and the purchase of one handgun a month (gun rationing).
- Eliminate the ability of municipalities to regulate the carrying of firearms in municipally-owned property that is rented out to private businesses such as those in Martinsburg.
- Limit those buildings a municipality may restrict and regulate the carrying of a firearm to itemized and specific locations like courthouses and city halls.
- Allow for the storage of firearms in personal vehicles on municipal property when locked and out of sight.
However, SB 317 has gotten heavy opposition from Charleston Mayor Danny Jones (R), who has aligned himself with the national anti-gun extremist group, “Mayors Against Illegal Guns” (MAIG), that promotes gun bans and increased restrictions on law-abiding gun owners. MAIG is founded and funded by radical anti-gun billionaire and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Your immediate help is needed to ensure that this critical protection for law-abiding gun owners is signed into law. Please call and e-mail Governor Tomblin TODAY at 1-888-438-2731 and by e-mail and urge him to sign Senate Bill 317. Your action will make the difference!