Senators approved a bill Friday that could make West Virginia the sixth state to allow residents to carry a concealed firearm without a permit. <\/p>\n
After reading aloud from the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, senators voted 32-2 for a bill (SB347) that allows people 18 and older to tote concealed guns. <\/p>\n
The bill eliminates the crime of carrying a concealed weapon in West Virginia, said Sen. Charles Trump, R-Morgan. <\/p>\n
The legislation next goes to the House of Delegates. <\/p>\n
Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Vermont and Wyoming are the only states that allow residents to carry a hidden gun without a permit. <\/p>\n
West Virginia already allows open carry of a handgun without a permit. <\/p>\n
West Virginia law enforcement officials have expressed concern about the bill. They said the legislation could put officers more at risk. They also noted that the weapons-permit fees generate funds for sheriffs departments across the state. Last year, the permits raised $3.4 million for the departments. <\/p>\n
However, senators who supported the bill kept coming back to the Second Amendment. <\/p>\n
This is a United States constitutional right, said Robert Karnes, R-Upshur. The Second Amendment recognizes this inherent right. <\/p>\n
Sens. Corey Palumbo, D-Kanawha, and Ron Miller, D-Greenbrier, voted against the bill. <\/p>\n
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W.Va. Senate OKs bill to allow concealed carry without permit<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Senators approved a bill Friday that could make West Virginia the sixth state to allow residents to carry a concealed firearm without a permit. After reading aloud from the Second Amendment of the U.S Continue reading