West Virginia Citizens Defense League, Inc.

PO Box 11371 • Charleston, WV 25339-1371

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WVCDL Legislative Tracking Service (2008)

The following gun-related bills are now pending before the West Virginia Legislature. Active bills are sorted by WVCDL's position and bill number. Dead bills are sorted by bill number and have WVCDL's position at the end of each bill's summary.

This page was last updated at 10:30 PM, Saturday, March 8, 2008.

Bill	Status
Bills WVCDL Strongly Supports

Bill	Status
Bills WVCDL Supports
SB 9 Mandating hunter safety program in public schools Requires the offering of hunter safety classes in public schools in grades 8-12.	01/09/08 - Introduced 01/09/08 - Referred to Senate Education Committee, then to the Senate Finance Committee 02/06/08 - Committee substitute reported, but first to Senate Finance Committee 02/06/08 - To the Senate Finance Committee 02/13/08 - Reported do pass, with amendments 02/14/08 - On 1st reading 02/14/08 - Read 1st time 02/15/08 - On 2nd reading 02/15/08 - Read 2nd time 02/15/08 - Committee amendments adopted (Voice vote) 02/18/08 - On 3rd reading 02/18/08 - Read 3rd time 02/18/08 - Passed Senate (Roll No. 1) 02/18/08 - Ordered to House 02/19/08 - To House Education Committee then House Finance Committee 02/19/08 - To House Education Committee 03/04/08 - With amendment, do pass, but first to Finance 03/04/08 - To House Finance Committee 03/05/08 - With amendment, do pass 03/05/08 - Immediate consideration 03/05/08 - Read 1st time 03/06/08 - From House Calendar, 2nd reading, placed on Special Calendar 03/06/08 - Read 2nd time 03/06/08 - Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote) 03/07/08 - On 3rd reading, Special Calendar 03/07/08 - Read 3rd time 03/07/08 - Passed House (Roll No. 411) 03/07/08 - Title amendment adopted (Voice vote) 03/07/08 - Communicated to Senate 03/08/08 - Senate concurred in House amendment and passed bill (Roll No. 50) 03/08/08 - Communicated to House 03/08/08 - Completed legislative action
SB 145 Castle Doctrine -- Civil Liability This bill increases protections from civil liability for the lawful use of force in self-defense. This bill is sponsored by every member of the state Senate.	01/09/08 - Introduced 01/09/08 - Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee 02/14/08 - Committee substitute reported 02/15/08 - On 1st reading 02/15/08 - Read 1st time 02/18/08 - On 2nd reading 02/18/08 - Read 2nd time 02/19/08 - On 3rd reading 02/19/08 - Read 3rd time 02/19/08 - Passed Senate (Roll No. 1) 02/19/08 - Effective from passage (Roll No. 1) 02/19/08 - Ordered to House 02/20/08 - Introduced in House 02/20/08 - To House Judiciary Committee 02/28/08 - Reported, do pass 02/28/08 - Immediate consideration 02/28/08 - Read 1st time 02/28/08 - Dispensed with Constitutional Rule (Roll No. 240) 02/28/08 - Read 2nd time 02/28/08 - Read 3rd time 02/28/08 - Passed House (Roll No. 241) 02/28/08 - Effective from passage (Roll No. 242) 02/28/08 - Communicated to Senate 02/28/08 - Completed legislative action 02/29/08 - House Message received 03/07/08 - To Governor 3/7/08 03/07/08 - To Governor 3/7/08 - Senate Journal 03/07/08 - To Governor 3/7/08 - House Journal

Bill	Status
Bills on which WVCDL is Neutral
HB 4471 Making certain changes to the State Police Retirement System The original version of this bill would have raised the fee for a concealed handgun license from $90 to $120 and was strongly opposed by WVCDL. Thanks to our efforts, the House Finance Committee removed the CHL fee increase from this bill. This bill ultimately passed both houses with this amendment. Another legislative victory for West Virginia gun owners!	02/08/08 - Introduced 02/08/08 - To House Pensions and Retirement Committee, then House Finance Committee 02/14/08 - Do pass, but first to Finance 02/14/08 - To House Finance Committee 02/24/08 - By substitute, do pass 02/24/08 - Immediate consideration 02/24/08 - Read 1st time 02/25/08 - From House Calendar, 2nd reading, placed on Special Calendar 02/25/08 - Read 2nd time 02/26/08 - On 3rd reading, Special Calendar 02/26/08 - Read 3rd time 02/26/08 - Passed House (Roll No. 186) 02/26/08 - Communicated to Senate 02/27/08 - Introduced in Senate 02/27/08 - To Senate Finance Committee 03/05/08 - Reported do pass, with amendment and title amendment 03/06/08 - On 1st reading 03/06/08 - Read 1st time 03/06/08 - On 2nd reading 03/06/08 - Suspension of Constitutional Rule (Roll No. 38) 03/06/08 - Read 2nd time 03/06/08 - On 3rd reading 03/06/08 - Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote) 03/06/08 - Read 3rd time 03/06/08 - Passed Senate with amended title (Roll No. 39) 03/06/08 - Senate requests House to concur 03/07/08 - House received Senate message 03/07/08 - House refused to concur; requested Senate to recede (Voice) 03/07/08 - Communicated to Senate 03/07/08 - Senate refused to recede; requested conference (Voice vote) 03/07/08 - Senate appoints conference committee: Foster, McCabe, Facemyer 03/07/08 - Communicated to House 03/08/08 - House received Senate message 03/08/08 - House agreed to conference 03/08/08 - House appointed conferees: Stalnaker, Craig, Evans 03/08/08 - Communicated to Senate 03/08/08 - House Message received 03/08/08 - Conference report filed - House 03/08/08 - Conference report filed - Senate 03/08/08 - Conference report received-House 03/08/08 - House adopted conference report and passed bill (Roll No. 504) 03/08/08 - Communicated to Senate 03/08/08 - Senate adopted conference report and passed bill (Roll No. 86) 03/08/08 - Communicated to House 03/08/08 - Completed legislative action
HB 4570 Authorizing regional jail employees to carry a firearm after receiving appropriate certification	02/14/08 - Introduced 02/14/08 - To House Judiciary Committee 02/22/08 - By substitute, do pass 02/24/08 - From House Calendar, 1st reading, placed on Special Calendar 02/24/08 - Read 1st time 02/25/08 - On 2nd reading, Special Calendar 02/25/08 - Read 2nd time 02/25/08 - Dispensed with Constitutional Rule (Roll No. 158) 02/25/08 - Read 3rd time 02/25/08 - Passed House (Roll No. 159) 02/25/08 - Communicated to Senate 02/26/08 - Introduced in Senate 02/26/08 - Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee 03/03/08 - Reported do pass 03/04/08 - On 1st reading 03/04/08 - Read 1st time 03/05/08 - On 2nd reading 03/05/08 - Read 2nd time 03/06/08 - On 3rd reading 03/06/08 - Read 3rd time 03/06/08 - Passed Senate (Roll No. 21) 03/06/08 - Effective from passage (Roll No. 21) 03/06/08 - Senate requests House to concur 03/07/08 - House concurred in Senate effective date (Voice) 03/07/08 - Effective from passage (Roll No. 378) 03/07/08 - Communicated to Senate 03/07/08 - Completed legislative action

SB 185 Transmission of certain state mental health records to NICS Original same as HB 4020.	01/10/08 - Introduced 01/10/08 - Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee 02/18/08 - Committee substitute reported 02/19/08 - On 1st reading 02/19/08 - Read 1st time 02/20/08 - On 2nd reading 02/21/08 - Laid over on 2nd reading 2/20/08 02/21/08 - Read 2nd time 02/21/08 - Read 2nd time 02/21/08 - Move to Foot on 1st Reading 02/21/08 - Motion 02/22/08 - On 3rd reading with right to amend 02/25/08 - Laid over on third reading 2/22/08 with right to amend 02/25/08 - Floor amendments adopted (Voice vote) 02/25/08 - Read 3rd time 02/25/08 - Passed Senate (Roll No. 3) 02/25/08 - Ordered to House 02/26/08 - Introduced in House 02/26/08 - To House Judiciary Committee 03/04/08 - With amendment, do pass 03/04/08 - Immediate consideration 03/04/08 - Read 1st time 03/05/08 - From House Calendar, 2nd reading, placed on Special Calendar 03/05/08 - Read 2nd time 03/05/08 - Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote) 03/05/08 - Dispensed with Constitutional Rule (Roll No. 314) 03/05/08 - Read 3rd time 03/05/08 - Passed House (Roll No. 315) 03/05/08 - Title amendment adopted (Voice vote) 03/05/08 - Communicated to Senate 03/06/08 - Senate concurred in House amendment and passed bill (Roll No. 40) 03/06/08 - Communicated to House 03/06/08 - Completed legislative action 03/07/08 - House received Senate message
SB 417 Authorizing Department of Revenue promulgate legislative rules As amended by the Senate Judiciary Committee, this bill incorporates SB 458, which we strongly opposed because it would give legislative approval to proposed rules of the Lottery Commission that would, among other things, deny track and casino workers and patrons the right to self-defense by prohibiting all weapon inside casinos. The objectionable part of the proposed legislative rule is C.S.R. § 179-8-3.11.a, which may be found by clicking here and going to pages 16 and 17. WVCDL insists that sections 2.65 (which defines weapon for the purposes of the rule) and 3.11.a of the rule be stricken. However, the House Judiciary Committee agreed with WVCDL and amended the bill to deauthorize the casino carry ban rule. This bill ultimately passed both houses with this amendment. Another legislative victory for West Virginia gun owners!	01/25/08 - Introduced in Senate 01/25/08 - To Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, then Senate Judiciary Committee 02/01/08 - Reported do pass, but first to Judiciary 02/01/08 - To Judiciary 02/22/08 - Committee substitute reported 02/25/08 - On 1st reading 02/25/08 - Read 1st time 02/26/08 - On 2nd reading 02/26/08 - Read 2nd time 02/26/08 - Floor amendment adopted (Voice vote) 02/26/08 - Floor amendment rejected (Voice vote) 02/27/08 - On 3rd reading 02/27/08 - Read 3rd time 02/27/08 - Passed Senate with amended title (Roll No. 15) 02/27/08 - Effective from passage (Roll No. 15) 02/27/08 - Ordered to House 02/28/08 - Introduced in House 02/28/08 - To House Judiciary Committee 03/05/08 - With amendment, do pass 03/05/08 - Immediate consideration 03/05/08 - Read 1st time 03/06/08 - From House Calendar, 2nd reading, placed on Special Calendar 03/06/08 - Read 2nd time 03/06/08 - Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote) 03/07/08 - On 3rd reading, Special Calendar 03/07/08 - Read 3rd time 03/07/08 - Passed House (Roll No. 423) 03/07/08 - Effective from passage (Roll No. 424) 03/07/08 - Communicated to Senate 03/08/08 - Senate concurred in House amendment and passed bill (Roll No. 55) 03/08/08 - Effective from passage (Roll No. 55) 03/08/08 - Communicated to House 03/08/08 - Completed legislative action

Bill	Status
Bills WVCDL Opposes

Bill	Status
Bills WVCDL Strongly Opposes

Bill	Status
Bills Probably Dead The deadline for bills to pass from their house of origin (crossover) is February 27. To make this deadline, most bills must have their first reading in their house of origin no later than February 25. The classification of a bill as "probably dead" is subject to change.
HB 2093 Allows family court judges to carry concealed weapons without a license. This bill grants family court judges the same privilege as the law already grants to circuit court judges. Former Status: Neutral	01/09/08 - Introduced 01/09/08 - To House Judiciary Committee
HB 2127 Allows magistrate court judges to carry concealed weapons without a license. This bill grants magistrates the same privilege as the law already grants to circuit court judges. Former Status: Neutral	01/09/08 - Introduced 01/0908 - To House Judiciary Committee
HB 2264 Castle Doctrine Codifies the legal standards for self-defense in both criminal and civil cases. This bill would provide complete immunity from civil liability for individuals who justifiably use force in self-defense and award attorney's fees to defendants who prevail in a civil case based on self-defense. This bill is the best of several different versions of Castle Doctrine legislation that have been introduced. Former Status: Strongly Support	01/09/08 - Introduced 01/09/08 - To House Judiciary Committee
HB 2363 Concealed handgun license exemption for mental hygiene commissioners. Authorizes mental hygiene commissioners to carry concealed weapons without a CHL. Former Status: Neutral	01/09/08 - Introduced 01/09/08 - To House Judiciary Committee
HB 2375 One handgun per month purchase limit. This bill would prohibit any private citizen from purchasing more than one handgun in any 30-day period. This bill is a perennial proposal of one of the few openly anti-gun members of the Legislature, Delegate John Doyle, D-Jefferson. This proposal has never passed out of committee and WVCDL does not expect otherwise this year. However, if, for some strange reason, this bill moves, we will fiercely oppose it. WVCDL will be going on the offensive on this issue by seeking a stronger state preemption law that will include preemption of Charleston's one handgun per month purchase limit ordinance, which was grandfathered into our current law. Former Status: Strongly Oppose Another legislative victory for West Virginia gun owners!	01/09/08 - Introduced 01/09/08 - To House Judiciary Committee
HB 2514 Concealed handgun license training requirements. Waiving the requirement that a training course in handling and firing handguns must be completed prior to the issuance of a concealed weapons permit for veterans who served during a period of armed conflict Although WVCDL supports restructuring the CHL training requirements to allow proof of military service to suffice, we believe the wording of the bill needs to be completely changed to ensure this bill does not inadvertently cause West Virginia to lose the opportunity to establish reciprocity with states whose reciprocity laws factor the training requirements of a potential reciprocal state. Former Status: Neutral	01/09/08 - Introduced 01/09/08 - To House Judiciary Committee
HB 2564 Castle Doctrine Similar to other Castle Doctrine bills. Former Status: Support	01/09/08 - Introduced 01/09/08 - To House Judiciary Committee
HB 2700 Allows magistrate court judges to carry concealed weapons without a license. Duplicate of HB 2127. Former Status: Neutral	01/09/08 - Introduced 01/09/08 - To House Judiciary Committee
HB 2734 Castle Doctrine Similar to other Castle Doctrine-related legislation. Former Status: Support	01/09/08 - Introduced 01/09/08 - To House Judiciary Committee
HB 3179 Unlawful possession of weapons by minors Amends procedural provisions under the juvenile justice law for minors who illegally possess weapons in violation of existing state law. This bill would require a juvenile 14-17 years of age charged with unlawful possession of weapon by a minor to be tried as an adult. After careful review, WVCDL has decided to oppose this bill in its current form because we believe the court should have discretion to determine whether the juvenile merits trial as an adult. Former Status: Oppose Another legislative victory for West Virginia gun owners!	01/09/08 - Introduced 01/09/08 - To House Judiciary Committee
HB 4020 Transmission of certain state mental health records to NICS This bill creates an exemption from the statute sealing certain state mental health records to allow records concerning individuals who have been involuntarily committed to a state mental hospital or found incompetent to stand trial to be transmitted to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) for the purpose of identifying those two classes of individuals as being prohibited from possessing a firearm under state & federal law by reason of having been adjudicated as a mentally defective or involuntarily committed to a mental institution. This bill is part of the Governor's legislative agenda. Former Status: Neutral	01/10/08 - Introduced 01/10/08 - To House Health and Human Resources Committee, then House Judiciary Committee 01/15/08 - Do pass, but first to Judiciary 01/15/08 - To House Judiciary Committee
HB 4026 CHL Information Privacy This bill prohibits disclosure of names, addresses and other personally-identifying information of persons licensed to carry concealed handguns. Former Status: Strongly Support	01/10/08 - Introduced 01/10/08 - To House Judiciary Committee 02/18/08 - Do pass 02/19/08 - From House Calendar, 1st reading, placed on Special Calendar 02/19/08 - Read 1st time 02/20/08 - On 2nd reading, Special Calendar 02/20/08 - Read 2nd time 02/28/08 - From Special Calendar, 3rd reading, placed on House Calendar 02/29/08 - From House Calendar, 3rd reading, placed on Special Calendar 02/29/08 - Tabled on 3rd reading, Special Calendar
HB 4158 Allowing law-enforcement agencies to sell all unclaimed stolen property at auction and use the proceeds Former Status: Neutral	01/24/08 - Introduced 01/24/08 - To House Judiciary Committee
HB 4257 Authorizing Lottery Commission promulgate legislative rule relating to racetrack table games This bill gives legislative approval to proposed rules of the Lottery Commission that would, among other things, deny track and casino workers and patrons the right to self-defense by prohibiting all weapon inside casinos. The objectionable part of the proposed legislative rule is C.S.R. § 179-8-3.11.a, which may be found by clicking here and going to pages 16 and 17. WVCDL insists that sections 2.65 (which defines weapon for the purposes of the rule) and 3.11.a of the rule be stricken. Consolidated into SB 417. Former Status: Strongly Oppose	01/25/08 - Introduced 01/25/08 - To House Finance Committee, then House Judiciary Committee 02/18/08 - With amendment, do pass, but first to Judiciary 02/18/08 - To House Judiciary Committee
HB 4285 Requiring prosecutors or assistant prosecutors that desire to carry a concealed weapon to undergo annual training WVCDL strongly supports establishing the required training programs to enable all qualifying law-enforcement officers and qualified retired law-enforcement officers to be able to carry concealed firearms nationwide under LEOSA. However, the current language of this bill would deprive prosecuting attorneys and their assistants of their current privilege under state law to carry concealed weapons without a license if they do not qualify under LEOSA. WVCDL would strongly support this bill if it is clarified to establish the LEOSA certification program for prosecutors who want to carry in other states without depriving prosecutors of their current privilege under West Virginia law. Former Status: Oppose Another legislative victory for West Virginia gun owners!	01/25/08 - Introduced 01/25/08 - To House Judiciary Committee
HB 4338 Relating to the discharging of firearms within a certain distance of a dwelling house Establishes permitting system to allow certain individuals to discharge firearms within 500 feet of their own homes. Former Status: Support	01/30/08 - Introduced 01/30/08 - To House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, then House Judiciary Committee
HB 4391 Allowing magistrates and family court judges to carry concealed weapons on courthouse property This bill exempts magistrates and family court judges who have concealed handgun licenses from the courthouse carry ban. Under this bill, magistrates and family court judges would no longer have to get the permission of the chief circuit judge of the county, who currently has the power to issue exemptions and waivers from the courthouse carry ban, to carry guns in court. This bill would not exempt magistrates or family court judges from the requirement ob obtaining a concealed handgun license to conceal the weapon. Former Status: Neutral	02/04/08 - Introduced 02/04/08 - To House Judiciary Committee
HB 4443 Creating the offense of carrying, using or possessing a firearm or other destructive device during the commission of a drug related crime This bill adopts provisions mirroring existing federal laws punishing the possession or use of firearms by drug dealers. Former Status: Neutral	02/06/08 - Introduced 02/06/08 - To House Judiciary Committee
HB 4683 Concealed handgun reciprocity reform -- universal recognition Generally recognizes all other states' licenses or permits to carry concealed handguns. Same as SB 228. This is a WVCDL bill. Former Status: Strongly Support	02/18/08 - Introduced 02/18/08 - To House Judiciary Committee

SB 31 Castle Doctrine See HB 2264. Former Status: Strongly Support	01/09/08 - Introduced 01/09/08 - Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee
SB 118 Castle Doctrine -- Civil Liability This bill increases protections from civil liability for the lawful use of force in self-defense. Former Status: Neutral	01/09/08 - Introduced 01/09/08 - Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee
SB 136 State Capitol Carry Ban Repeal Repeals the statute prohibiting the possession of deadly weapons on the State Capitol grounds. The practical effect of this bill will be to allow people to legally keep guns in cars parked in the State Capitol parking lot, as weapons could continue to be banned in the buildings by posting signs at all entrances absent the stronger state preemption law we have been seeking. This is a WVCDL bill. Former Status: Strongly Support	01/09/08 - Introduced 01/09/08 - Referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee
SB 152 Law-Enforcement Officer Firearm Certification Provides active and retired law-enforcement officers access to the required training and certification to carry concealed firearms nationwide pursuant to the federal Law-Enforcement Officer Safety Act of 2004. . LEOSA permits qualified law-enforcement officers, whether on or off duty, and qualified retired law-enforcement officers who undergo annual training and certification to carry concealed firearms nationwide notwithstanding state or local laws. This is a WVCDL bill. Former Status: Strongly Support	01/10/08 - Introduced 01/10/08 - Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee 02/20/08 - Reported do pass 02/21/08 - On 1st reading 02/21/08 - Read 1st time 02/22/08 - On 2nd reading 02/22/08 - Read 2nd time 02/25/08 - On 3rd reading 02/25/08 - Read 3rd time 02/25/08 - Passed Senate (Roll No. 2) 02/25/08 - Effective from passage (Roll No. 2) 02/25/08 - Ordered to House 02/26/08 - Introduced in House 02/26/08 - To House Judiciary Committee
SB 178 Relating to concealed handgun licenses generally Establishes a procedure for issuing nonresident concealed handgun licenses and removes Social Security numbers from licenses and applications. This was a carryover of a WVCDL-authored bill introduced last year. We have decided to incorporate this bill into a broader reform of the concealed handgun licensing statute. This is a WVCDL bill. Former Status: Neutral	01/10/08 - Introduced 01/10/08 - Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee
SB 188 Requiring retired law-enforcement officers to recertify firearm license This bill requires retired law-enforcement officers to periodically requalify with a firearm to keep or renew a concealed handgun license. After consulting with this bill's sponsor, WVCDL has found that the sponsor introduced this bill at a constituent's request to provide a means for retired law-enforcement officers from an agency in another state who live in West Virginia to qualify to carry concealed firearms nationwide under the federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004, 18 U.S.C. § 926C. We are working with this bill's sponsor to craft better language that does not create any new requirements to obtain or renew a standard concealed handgun license and will seek to do so through WVCDL-authored SB 152 with an amendment that addresses this one shortcoming in SB 152. Therefore, WVCDL is neutral on SB 188 for now. Former Status: Neutral	01/10/08 - Introduced 01/10/08 - Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee
SB 228 Concealed handgun reciprocity reform -- universal recognition Generally recognizes all other states' licenses or permits to carry concealed handguns. This is a WVCDL bill. Former Status: Strongly Support	01/16/08 - Introduced 01/16/08 - Referred to Senate Interstate Cooperation Committee then Senate Judiciary Committee
SB 230 Concealed handgun licenses As introduced, this bill reduces the fees for concealed handgun licenses from $90 to $50 for each 5-year license. The current version of this bill makes minor changes to the reciprocity law and removes licensees' Social Security numbers from the face of the license. The introduced version of this bill was a WVCDL bill. Former Status: Strongly Support	01/16/08 - Introduced 01/16/08 - Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee then Senate Finance Committee 02/21/08 - Committee substitute reported, but first to Finance 02/21/08 - Unanimous consent 02/21/08 - Immediate consideration 02/21/08 - On 1st reading 02/21/08 - Read 1st time 02/21/08 - Unanimous consent 02/21/08 - 2nd reference dispensed 02/22/08 - On 2nd reading 02/22/08 - Read 2nd time 02/25/08 - On 3rd reading with right to amend 02/25/08 - Read 3rd time 02/25/08 - Passed Senate (Roll No. 6) 02/25/08 - Effective from passage (Roll No. 6) 02/25/08 - Ordered to House 02/26/08 - Introduced in House 02/26/08 - To House Judiciary Committee
SB 252 Firearm Straw Purchases Prohibits the purchase of firearms from licensed firearm dealers with the intent of reselling to a person prohibited from possessing firearms or with the intent of unlawfully transferring the firearm across state lines. This bill mirrors federal law, existing Virginia state laws, including a similar bill enacted last year by the Virginia General Assembly. This bill has been designed to provide state level jurisdiction in West Virginia to prosecute straw purchasers and, like Virginia's 2007 law, is intended to block the unlawful efforts of New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg to dispatch investigators to gun dealers in gun owner-friendly states in his efforts to snare gun dealers in costly litigation with the hopes of acquiring access to private records of legal gun purchases and indirectly imposing New York-style gun control via litigation. This is a WVCDL bill. Former Status: Strongly Support	01/18/08 - Introduced 01/18/08 - Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee
SB 255 Absolving landowner's liability for hunter's injuries This bill encourages private landowners to allow hunting and fishing on their property by absolving the landowner, tenant or agent of the landowner from any civil liability for injuries to any persons hunting, trapping or fishing on the landowner's land with or without written permission. Former Status: Strongly Support	01/18/08 - Introduced 01/18/08 - Referred to Senate Natural Resources Committee, then Senate Judiciary Committee
SB 285 Relating to State Police Retirement System This bill would raise the fee for a concealed handgun license from $90 to $120. Original same as original HB 4471. Former Status: Strongly Oppose Another legislative victory for West Virginia gun owners!	01/21/08 - Introduced in Senate 01/21/08 - To Senate Pensions Committee, then Senate Finance Committee 02/07/08 - Committee substitute reported, but first to Senate Finance Committee 02/07/08 - To Senate Finance Committee
SB 319 Clarifying the regulation of firearms under the hunting statutes This bill clarifies several contradictory and confusing provisions of West Virginia’s hunting laws that regulate where, when, and how firearms may be legally carried. This bill clarifies the legality of carrying handguns, either openly or concealed, as it relates to hunting regulations, and exempts individuals licensed to carry concealed handguns from certain regulations on the manner in which rifles and shotguns must be transported in vehicles or the woods. For more background information on this bill, see the summary of the bill here. This is a WVCDL bill. Former Status: Strongly Support	01/23/08 - Introduced 01/23/08 - Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee
SB 458 Authorizing Lottery Commission promulgate legislative rule relating to racetrack table games Same as HB 4257. Consolidated into SB 417. Former Status: Strongly Oppose Another legislative victory for West Virginia gun owners!	01/25/08 - Introduced 01/25/08 - Referred to Senate Finance Committee then Senate Judiciary Committee 01/25/08 - To Finance 02/15/08 - Reported do pass, with amendment, but first to Judiciary 02/15/08 - To Judiciary
SB 515 Absolving landowner's liability for hunter's injuries Similar to SB 255. Former Status: Strongly Support	01/31/08 - Introduced 01/3108 - Referred to Senate Natural Resources Committee, then Senate Judiciary Committee
SB 664 Exempting family court judges and magistrates from concealed weapon licensing requirements This bill grants magistrates and family court judges the same privilege as the law already grants to circuit court judges. Former Status: Neutral	02/14/08 - Introduced 02/14/08 - Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee
SB 677 Modifying certain firearm use restrictions The introduced version of this bill would have allowed the shooting and discharging firearms within 500 feet of any dwelling house, if written consent by all residents within five hundred feet is obtained and on or near any park or other place where persons gather for purposes of pleasure in an established shooting range. The current version of this bill allows a person to discharge a firearm within 500 feet of his or her own home if he or she is not otherwise within a no-discharge zone. Former Status: Support	02/15/08 - Introduced 02/15/08 - Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee 02/25/08 - Committee substitute reported 02/25/08 - Unanimous consent 02/25/08 - Immediate consideration 02/25/08 - On 1st reading 02/25/08 - Read 1st time 02/26/08 - On 2nd reading 02/26/08 - Read 2nd time 02/27/08 - On 3rd reading 02/27/08 - Read 3rd time 02/27/08 - Passed Senate (Roll No. 29) 02/27/08 - Ordered to House 02/28/08 - Introduced in House 02/28/08 - To House Judiciary Committee
SB 713 Castle Doctrine Similar to other Castle Doctrine-related bills. Former Status: Neutral	02/18/08 - Introduced 02/18/08 - Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee
SB 728 Prohibiting seizure of lawfully owned firearms during state of emergency This bill clarifies and strengthens language of the Emergency powers Protection Act designed to prevent the denial of the right to keep and bear arms under the guise of emergency management. This is a WVCDL bill. Former Status: Strongly Support	02/18/08 - Introduced 02/18/08 - Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee
SB 730 Eliminating obsolete weapons' licensing statutory language This bill makes purely technical corrections to several code sections that contain outdated language referring to licenses to carry deadly weapons issued under West Virginia's old, highly-restrictive "may issue" license to carry law, that was declared unconstitutional in State ex rel. City of Princeton v. Buckner, 180 W.Va. 457, 377 S.E.2d 139 (1988), and subsequently repealed and replaced with no requirement of a license for open carry and a shall-issue law for licenses to carry concealed. This is a WVCDL bill. Former Status: Strongly Support	02/18/08 - Introduced 02/18/08 - Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee
SB 732 State preemption improvement Updates and improves the state preemption law. This is a greatly needed bill to close loopholes in our existing county & municipal preemption bill as well as preempt state administrative actions that infringe on our rights. This bill will nullify the unlicensed open carry bans in Charleston & Dunbar, nullify Charleston’s one handgun per month purchase limit, and bar the posting of “no guns allowed” signs in state and local government owned buildings where guns are not otherwise prohibited by law except when the authority operating the building establishes certain security measures, including mandatory metal detector screenings of all visitors to the restricted area, and provides for secure weapon storage on site. State law prohibits carrying weapons in or on the premises of correctional facilities and primary & secondary schools as well as inside courthouses. WVCDL strongly believes firearm regulations should be uniform statewide and that public buildings should not be criminal protection zones. Again, to accommodate security-sensitive events, this bill allows weapons to be banned in public buildings when the security measures specified above are taken and legally armed visitors are provided secure storage for their weapons while visiting. This is a WVCDL bill. Former Status: Strongly Support	02/18/08 - Introduced 02/18/08 - Referred to Senate Government Organization Committee, then to Senate Judiciary Committee
SCR 54 Urging Secretary of Interior to cause National Park Service and Fish and Wildlife Service to amend certain firearm regulations This resolution puts the Legislature on record in support of proposals to allow visitors to national parks and national wildlife refuges to legally carry firearms in accordance with state law. Current National Park Service and Fish and Wildlife Service regulations generally prohibit the possession of operational, loaded firearms on NPS and FWS property. This is a WVCDL-authored resolution.	02/20/08 - Introduced in Senate 02/21/08 - On Unfinished Business 02/21/08 - Referred to Senate Natural Resources Committee