Firearms Forum at Marshall University

Let your pro-gun voice be heard tomorrow, February 26th at 6:30pm in room BE5 in the basement of the Memorial Student Center. There will be state, local and university leaders in attendance. We need to have a professional and respectful pro-Second Amendment presence. Currently, they are only expecting about 100 people. Let's fill the room to its capacity of 285 with our supporters!

Visit the Facebook event page if you need more info.

From The Parthenon student newspaper...

Robert Bookwalter, dean of the college of education, will lead the panel discussion about recent crimes in the area, police response, current gun regulations and the history of gun rights in America. The panel members will consist of Huntington Mayor Steve Williams, Chief of Campus Police Jim Terry, Marshall University Faculty and members of the State Legislature.

Adam Fridley, the SGA chief of staff, said there would be a question and answer session for students and members of the audience to ask questions or give general feedback after the panel discussion.

Gun Rights Bill Moves Through the Legislature

A much-needed bill is on it's way to being law. According to The State Journal...

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, police officers confiscated hundreds of firearms. The West Virginia House of Delegates has taken a major step in ensuring something similar doesn't happen here.
House Bill 2471 passed the House unanimously Feb. 22. The bill, introduced by Speaker Rick Thompson, D-Wayne, would prohibit the restriction on lawful use of firearms and ammunition during a declared state of emergency.

See the WVCDL's Legislative Tracking webpage for the status of important firearm legislation in West Virginia for 2013.

Give a Big 'Thank You' to the WV Attorney General

According to a Valentine's Day press release from West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, he has filed an amicus brief in the Kachalsky v. Cacace case, which challenges a New York law that requires a person to show a particular need to obtain a permit to carry a firearm outside the home.

As I mentioned in my very first post on this blog, the Heller ruling pretty much strikes down the ability of a government to arbitrarily issue permits. It took a few more years than I thought it would, but there has now been a petition for a writ of certiorari filed in this case. West Virginia, along with 19 other states and constitutional rights groups like the Cato Institute, are supporting this petition with amicus briefs. If the Supreme Court grants the petition, this should lead to a ruling that strikes down 'May Issue' permit laws around the country. So, given that a federal appeals court recently ruled that Illinois has to offer some type of legal carry, 'Shall Issue' may soon be the law in all the states.

For the General Welfare?

Senator Feinstein has decided that the Second Amendment should take a back seat to the Preamble to the Constitution. Never mind the fact that the U.S. Supreme Court has held that the clause "has never been regarded as the source of any substantive power conferred on the Government of the United States or on any of its Departments." (Jacobson v. Massachusetts)
So now she is laughingly framing her anti-gun argument as personal pleasure vs. the general welfare. Apparently, she doesn't see a reason to own firearms except for the entertainment value. Personal protection is such an alien concept to her that it doesn't even cross her mind. Maybe she should watch this video of a citizen using an AR-15 to defend the lives of others in Detroit.

Manchin Selling Out WV to Gun-Grabbers

A group of four Senators, including Sen. Joe Manchin (WV) , are negotiating a bill that would require background checks for all private transfers of firearms. The main issue with this bill would be enforcement. In order to know if background checks are being performed, the government would have to have a record of who owns the gun in question. 'Universal Background Checks' quickly become a national gun registry. You can find a memo from Obama's Justice Department that comes to the same conclusion here (pdf).
Many gun control advocates will say it's not a big deal because no one wants to confiscate your guns. There are politicians from the local to the federal levels that want nothing less than confiscation. Take this example of a Pennsylvania politician from Bitter over at Shall Not Be Questioned.

On top of the de facto gun registry issue, there is also the question of efficacy.

1) Aurora, Colorado Shooter - passed a background check.
2) Tucson, Arizona Shooter - passed a background check.
3) Virginia Tech Shooter - passed a background check.
4) LAPD Cop Rampage Shooter - passed a background check.
5) Family Council Shooter - passed a background check.  


And finally, the incident that was the catalyst for the government's renewed interest in infringing Second Ammendment rights... 

6) Newtown, Connecticut - The shooter was actually denied by a background check. Instead the shooter murdered someone who he knew owned firearms, stole the firearms belonging to the victim, and went on to kill over 25 others.  

None of these firearms were purchased through some imaginary "loophole" for private transfers.  

Let Senator Manchin know that background checks on private transfers will do nothing but infringe on the rights of Americans by contacting him directly.

2013 WVCDL Legislative Tracking

The WVCDL has released its 2013 West Virginia Legislative Tracking webpage. Here is a list of bills that the organization is currently supporting, in order of importance:

• HB2558 - Strengthen preemption to strip old gun bans from various cities (WVCDL bill) - strongly support
• HB2572 - hunting cleanup, loaded magazines in vehicles allowed, open carry in the woods and in a car allowed. (WVCDL bill) - strongly support
• HB2560 - School carry for all CCW (WVCDL bill) - strongly support
• HB2561 - Waiver of CCW fees for veterans - strongly support
• HB2465 - Strengthen preemption (Weaker and more complex than WVCDL bill) - Strongly Support
• HB2471 - Prohibits confiscation and restriction during state of emergency. (Speaker Thompson's bill, this will pass the house with strong WVCDL support)
• HB2502 - Prohibits doctors from asking questions about firearms - strongly support
• HB2135 - Allows weapons securely stored in vehicles on state capitol complex. - support
• HB2294 - Allows firearms in parking lots of companies that prohibit firearms, school pickup/drop-off - support
• HB2390 - Teachers CCW on school property with Board of Ed approval - support
• HB2427 - States that firearms manufactured in-state are not subject to federal regulation - support
• HB2431 - Allowing recovery of rights for people with expunged convictions and judicial review - support
• HB2437 - Exempt handgun training from sales tax - support
• HB2459 - Allow carry with additional fees and background checks on capitol complex - support
• HB2504 - Nullification act for federal laws - support

The WVCDL is asking that residents contact their state legislators and voice their support. You can find your representative here.