Tag: Concealed Guns

Tomblin Cites Concerns Over Gun Law in Teen's Death

West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin says the recent fatal shooting of a Charleston teenager again raises policy questions over the state law enacted over his veto that allows residents to carry a concealed gun without a permit.

Tomblin says James Means’ death Nov. 21 has shaken the Charleston community.

Police say the black 15-year-old was fatally shot by William Pulliam, a 62-year-old white man, after they bumped into each other outside a store and twice exchanged words.

Pulliam in a jail interview said he shot in self-defense.

The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports Pulliam pleaded no contest in a 2013 domestic violence case and wasn’t allowed to have a gun.

Tomblin, who leaves office in January, says Means’ death brings his abiding concerns about the law “into sharp focus once again.”

State Begins Allowing Concealed Guns Without Permits

West Virginia now lets people 21 years old and up carry hidden guns without permits or training.

The law passed by the Republican-led Legislature took effect Tuesday.

In March, lawmakers needed only a simple majority to override Democratic Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin’s veto of the bill.

Tomblin vetoed it over safety concerns from law enforcement officials. He vetoed similar legislation last year.

It was already legal in West Virginia to carry guns openly — in a holster, for instance — without permits.

The law lets people carry concealed guns in public without permits, by wearing a coat for example. People ages 18 through 20 still will need a permit and training with live firing.

West Virginia is one of 10 states that don’t require concealed carry permits.

State May Weigh Measure to Allow Concealed Guns Without Permit

After West Virginia’s governor vetoed the idea earlier this year, a push to let people carry hidden guns without permits is regaining steam.

In March, Democratic Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin vetoed a measure making concealed carry permits optional. He cited safety concerns and an outcry from law enforcement. However, Republican state Senate President Bill Cole says there is enough support for the measure to revisit it in January.

It’s legal to carry a gun openly — like in a holster — without a permit in West Virginia. With the proposed change, gun carriers wouldn’t need a permit to cover their weapons with a coat, or something similar. Few states allow concealed weapons to be carried without a permit.

If Tomblin vetoes the bill again, the Republican-led Legislature would need only a simple majority to overturn the veto.

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