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Earlier this week, Senate Bill 1071 was stopped in its tracks. SB 1071, introduced by Sen. Chris Rose (R), would have created the Public Defense and Provisioning Act, allowing the State of West Virginia to transfer machine guns to qualified citizens through a state-run program. Senate Judiciary Chairman Tom Willis (R) fought for gun owners by pushing this bill through his committee. And the Judiciary Committee passed the bill overwhelmingly. But according to the Senate President Randy Smith, he killed the bill himself and kept it from moving forward. While this is disappointing, the fight is not over. |
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A Path Forward Still Exists Even though the Senate did not advance the bill, its language can still be introduced in the House by amending it into another bill that is already moving through the legislative process. This is a common legislative procedure, and pro-Second Amendment lawmakers need to hear from you so they will consider exploring this option. In other words, SB 1071 is not necessarily dead yet. |
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Setting the Record Straight Some criticism has been raised about the quality and legality of this legislation, and those criticisms are simply incorrect. The bill was carefully reviewed by GOA staff and attorneys before introduction. The same language was used by attorney and State Representative T.J. Roberts for similar legislation in Kentucky. Additionally, the bill passed through the standard review process required before legislation can be introduced in the West Virginia Legislature. This was not by any means a rushed or poorly drafted bill, and it is in full compliance with the terms produced by the National Firearms Act and other governing federal law. |
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Questions About Behind-the-Scenes Pressure Recent reporting by firearms journalist John Crump has raised additional concerns about what may have happened behind the scenes. According to lawmakers who spoke with Crump, a lobbyist allegedly pressured legislators to oppose the bill while implying he was acting on behalf of the NRA. Crump reports that the individual leveraged endorsements that could be pulled from lawmakers who supported the legislation. However, when Crump contacted NRA leadership directly, they reportedly confirmed that the individual in question has not worked for the NRA for several years, and that NRA is not opposed to the bill. These reports raise serious questions about whether legislators may have received inaccurate information while evaluating the bill. Governor Morrisey Supports the Effort It is also important to note that Governor Patrick Morrisey has expressed support for this legislation, and remains supportive of restoring the natural rights to keep and bear arms of law-abiding citizens. |
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First, contact members of the West Virginia House of Delegates and urge them to support introducing the language of SB 1071 into another bill so the legislature can properly debate and vote on it. Also, contact members of the West Virginia Senate and respectfully express your disappointment that the bill did not move forward due to misunderstandings and unfortunate circumstances. Encourage them to support efforts to move this legislation forward if another opportunity arises! |
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Second, join the GOA West Virginia Facebook group and follow the GOA WV Facebook page to stay informed and engaged as this fight continues. |
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SB 1071 represents an important step toward restoring the full scope of the right to keep and bear arms. Although the Senate did not advance the bill this week, the opportunity to revive it still exists. Gun Owners of America will continue working with lawmakers and grassroots activists to ensure this effort does not end here. Stay engaged, stay informed, and stay in the fight. |
