This week, NRA-backed constitutional carry legislation--Senate Bill 347--overwhelmingly passed the West Virginia state House. SB 347 is a commonsense 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), and allow law-abiding gun owners the ability to better protect themselves and their loved ones.
SB 347 gives citizens the freedom to choose the best method of carrying, based on their attire, gender and/or physical attributes. 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.
Even though this is an issue being addressed by the West Virginia legislature and NOT Congress, Senator Joe Manchin issued a press release calling a bill that passed with broad, bi-partisan support both “irresponsible” and “dangerous”.
According to Manchin, he opposes SB 347 because it "would allow a person to carry a concealed gun without a permit or requirement of safety training…" In West Virginia, it is legal to carry a firearm openly without the need for a license or government-mandated training, as long as the individual is not prohibited by law from possessing a firearm. However, under current law, if a firearm becomes covered by a coat or if a woman prefers to carry a firearm for self-protection in her purse, he or she would need to possess a concealed pistol permit. What makes Manchin’s opposition even more bizarre is the fact that he has voted for - and is a current cosponsor of – federal legislation to allow non-residents to carry concealed without a permit in West Virginia.
Regardless of Senator Manchin’s disingenuous opposition, this legislation will soon be transmitted to West Virginia’s governor for consideration. Please show Governor Earl Ray Tomblin the strong support his constituents have for this bill by calling (304)558-2000 and politely urging him to sign SB 347! You can contact governor Tomblin by email here: http://www.governor.wv.gov/Pages/SubmitaCommenttotheGovernor.aspx
Constitutional Concealed Carry Effort in West Virginia Needs Your Help!
Saturday, March 14, 2015
Saturday, June 28, 2025
Overnight, the U.S. Senate added pro-gun tax relief language back into the Reconciliation bill after the Senate Parliamentarian struck out an earlier provision. While this new provision is not as expansive as the language we advocated for which ...
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
Earlier today the U.S. Senate passed the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” This bill contained a provision that would, among other things, eliminate the burdensome $200 excise tax imposed by federal law on suppressors, short-barreled firearms, and “any ...
Thursday, May 22, 2025
Earlier today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R.1 the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which included Section 2 of the Hearing Protection Act, completely removing suppressors from the National Firearms Act (NFA).
Friday, June 27, 2025
Today, the U.S. Senate was forced to remove the pro-gun language that had been previously included in the Reconciliation Bill currently making its way through the chamber. We explained in a previous article that this language would, ...
Monday, June 30, 2025
Just over an hour away from the state capitol in Lansing, Michigan – even as lawmakers worked feverishly to pass various gun control measures, including expansion of “gun free” zones – a chilling reminder unfolded of the ...
More Like This From Around The NRA
