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Everytown, West Virginia Moms Denounce Legislature’s Move To Dismantle Concealed Carry Permit System By Overriding Governor’s Veto

3.5.2016

Polling Shows that 84 Percent of Likely Voters in West Virginia Favor Requiring Permits to Carry Concealed Handguns in Public

CHARLESTON, W.Va.
– The West Virginia chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today criticized the state legislature for overriding the governor’s veto to enact dangerous legislation that will allow people with no background check or safety training to carry concealed, loaded weapons in public. Despite the opposition of 84 percent of West Virginians, law enforcement and the governor, Charleston lawmakers overrode the governor’s veto of House Bill 4145, making West Virginia one of very few states to allow permitless carry of handguns.

STATEMENT FROM DEE PRICE, VOLUNTEER WITH THE WEST VIRGINIA CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA:

“As a mom and a West Virginian, I am livid that the legislature caved to the demands of the gun lobby on HB 4145. Law enforcement, our governor and 84 percent of West Virginians oppose allowing people to carry hidden, loaded firearms in public without a background check, safety training or a permit because it is just plain dangerous. This November, we will remember this craven effort to curry favor with the gun lobby at the expense of public safety.”

Earlier this week, Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund launched radio, print and digital advertising against this dangerous legislation. The ads (available here and here) highlight the dangers of eliminating this important public safety requirement and allowing people with no background check or safety training to carry hidden, loaded guns in public.

Recent polling, conducted for Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund by Survey USA, found that:


  • 89 percent of Democrats and 79 percent of Republicans favor requiring permits to carry a concealed handgun in public in West Virginia
  • 84 percent of concealed carry permit holders favor requiring permits to carry a concealed handgun in public in West Virginia
  • 87 percent of gun owners favor requiring permits to carry a concealed handgun in public in West Virginia

EVERYTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA MOMS DENOUNCE LEGISLATURE’S MOVE TO DISMANTLE CONCEALED CARRY PERMIT SYSTEM BY OVERRIDING GOVERNOR’S VETO
Polling Shows that 84 Percent of Likely Voters in West Virginia Favor Requiring Permits to Carry Concealed Handguns in Public
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today criticized the state legislature for overriding the governor’s veto to enact dangerous legislation that will allow people with no background check or safety training to carry concealed, loaded weapons in public. Despite the opposition of 84 percent of West Virginians, law enforcement and the governor, Charleston lawmakers overrode the governor’s veto of House Bill 4145, making West Virginia one of very few states to allow permitless carry of handguns.
STATEMENT FROM DEE PRICE, VOLUNTEER WITH THE WEST VIRGINIA CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA:
“As a mom and a West Virginian, I am livid that the legislature caved to the demands of the gun lobby on HB 4145. Law enforcement, our governor and 84 percent of West Virginians oppose allowing people to carry hidden, loaded firearms in public without a background check, safety training or a permit because it is just plain dangerous. This November, we will remember this craven effort to curry favor with the gun lobby at the expense of public safety.”
Earlier this week, Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund launched radio, print and digital advertising against this dangerous legislation. The ads (available here and here) highlight the dangers of eliminating this important public safety requirement and allowing people with no background check or safety training to carry hidden, loaded guns in public.
Recent polling, conducted for Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund by Survey USA, found that:
89 percent of Democrats and 79 percent of Republicans favor requiring permits to carry a concealed handgun in public in West Virginia
84 percent of concealed carry permit holders favor requiring permits to carry a concealed handgun in public in West Virginia
87 percent of gun owners favor requiring permits to carry a concealed handgun in public in West Virginia
HB 4145 will lower the bar for who can carry a hidden, loaded gun in West Virginia. Currently, several categories of people are prohibited from carrying in public under the state’s concealed carry permitting system, including:


  • Anyone convicted of misdemeanor crimes of violence,
  • Anyone with multiple convictions for driving under the influence, and
  • Anyone who has not completed a handgun safety course.

HB 4145 will dismantle the current permitting system and allow many of these individuals to carry a concealed handgun without passing a background check and getting a permit. Once HB 4145 takes effect, West Virginia will join only a handful of states in abandoning core public safety standards by allowing people to carry hidden, loaded guns in public with no permit.