At the legislature today, the Commissioner of West Virginia’s Bureau of Public Health has concerns with a bill changing the way immunization exemptions are granted in the state. We’ll talk with Dr. Rahul Gupta. And constitutional questions are debated in both chambers. In the Senate, lawmakers take up a resolution calling for a national convention of the states. In the house, delegates debate second amendment gun rights. The fireworks in both chambers tonight on The Legislature Today.
Tag: Gun Rights
Governor Tomblin Signs Opioid Antagonist Act
At the legislature today, the House made some major changes to the senate’s campaign finance reform bill. And two senators say the bill will not be approved by the Senate with those changes intact. A rally over the weekend brings six thousand citizens to the capitol to speak out against the Republican-led initiatives they say will hurt workers across the state. And we’ll talk about senior citizen’s issues with representatives of the AARP on The Legislature Today.
Gun Owners Want to Conceal Carry Without a Permit
At the legislature today, after the Senate worked on the Charter Schools bill for weeks during the session, the bill is now in the hands of the house which has just nine days to consider it. We’ll have an update. And the number of damage claims against the state for potholes are rising. What one lawmaker says can be done about the condition of West Virginias roads. These stories and more coming up on The Legislature Today.
State Board of Education Holds Emergency Meeting Over Common Core Repeal
At the legislature today, the senate passes the Governor’s bill to reform the state’s juvenile justice system. Senators from both sides of the aisle praise the bill they say will mend troubled kids and their families. A public hearing this morning brings out the issue of discrimination against the LGBT community in West Virginia. And the State Board of Education held an emergency meeting Friday to discuss a bill they say could cause substantial harm to students, teachers, and school systems in the state. We’ll find out more on The Legislature Today.
Charleston Mayor to Governor: Veto This Municipal Gun Ordinance Bill
Charleston Mayor Danny Jones says he will meet with Governor Tomblin very soon and ask him to veto a gun bill passed by the legislature last week.
Senate Bill 317 makes gun laws uniform state wide. But the bill defines a municipally owned recreation facility as a swimming pool, recreation center, sports facility housing an after school program or other similar facility where children are regularly present. The bill permits a person to carry a lawfully possessed weapon into such a center, as long as it is stored out of view.
Mayor Jones is pretty upset about it.
“One of those rec centers is associated with Kanawha County schools and if you carry a gun onto school property, it’s a felony. And so I’m wondering if legally if they can even do this. So, we’re ready to go to court and we’re ready to do whatever we can do to challenge this and to put a stop to this.”
Jones said he and city officials toured one rec center this morning to determine where lockers could be located so that firearms could be securely stored as the bill requires. He says the city won’t install lockers and that the state should pay for them.
He also blames gun lobbyists from out of state for pressuring lawmakers to pass this during an election year.
Charleston's Big Question: Gun Laws or Home Rule?
A gun rights group has gone to court in an attempt to stop enforcement of Charleston’s gun ordinances.
The West Virginia Citizens Defense League asked Kanawha Circuit Court on Tuesday to issue an injunction against the ordinances.
The group says Charleston isn’t complying with a new state law that removed the authority to regulate guns from cities participating in West Virginia’s home rule program.
Charleston officials haven’t decided whether to opt out of the program or modify the city’s gun ordinances.
The ordinances limit handgun purchases and prohibit handguns and other deadly weapons on public property.
City Attorney Paul Ellis says the city will review the complaint and respond in court.