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
Tuesday, September 8, 2026
In late August, Virginia State Delegate Dan Helmer (D-10), who represents a portion of the Northern Virginia D.C. suburb of Fairfax County, took to Reddit for an “ask me anything” (AMA) question and answer session.
Monday, September 14, 2026
One of the aftereffects of the United States Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in NYSRPA v. Bruen was the ire expressed by antigun lawmakers, executives and judges, which manifested as an outright unwillingness to respect the ...
Tuesday, September 8, 2026
Economics has a concept called “revealed preference.” The gist is that a person’s observed actions reveal more about their preferences than what a person might profess to favor.
Tuesday, September 8, 2026
One of the narratives invented by gun control activists and their political allies to try to make their agenda more palatable to the general public has been to recast gun crime as a “public health ...
Tuesday, September 8, 2026
The federal government’s promise to provide a pathway to restore firearm rights is no longer merely a commitment on paper.
More Like This From Around The NRA
