West Virginia’s bill allowing concealed carry on college campuses is almost law : NPR
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West Virginia’s legislature has passed a bill that would let concealed have of firearms on general public higher education campuses, which include West Virginia College (pictured in this article). Ray Thompson/AP disguise caption

West Virginia’s legislature has passed a bill that would permit concealed have of firearms on general public school campuses, like West Virginia University (pictured in this article).
Ray Thompson/APA monthly bill that would permit persons to have concealed weapons at community higher education campuses in West Virginia handed by a landslide in the state’s Dwelling of Delegates on Tuesday.
The evaluate now heads to the desk of Gov. Jim Justice, a Republican. He has not produced any public indicator of whether he will sign it into regulation.
Latest regulations in West Virginia prohibit carrying guns on general public university and university campuses.
But this monthly bill — which didn’t obtain sufficient traction when introduced in 2018 and 2019 — would allow for people today with concealed-carry permits to have pistols or revolvers on campuses commencing in July 2024.
The Campus Self-Protection Act was passed 29-4 in the state’s Senate chamber previous 7 days and then 84-13 in the state’s Property on Tuesday.
The monthly bill strictly prohibits open have of guns on community faculty campuses and won’t enable guns in substantial-potential parts like stadiums.
How West Virginia’s faculty neighborhood has responded
The presidents of West Virginia College and Marshall University penned a joint letter to legislators opposing the bill in late January.
“We feel that our boards of governors are very best suited to determine irrespective of whether guns must be permitted on campus,” the letter reads. “We hence do not assist statewide campus carry.”
The presidents of West Virginia Point out College, Harmony University and Shepherd University wrote a separate letter stating they strongly guidance the Next Modification but “have significant reservations about the considerable general public security issues” that the bill would present.
“Introducing firearms into this now tough natural environment could have unintended implications,” the letter says, referencing enhanced suicide premiums and concern that the presence of firearms could stifle the free exchange of concepts.
West Virginia Community Broadcasting noted that at a general public listening to previous 7 days, 40 folks spoke and nearly everyone opposed the bill.
Marshall University professor Chris White said the bill won’t have sufficient safety measures in put. Previously a Marine Corps infantryman, he referenced months of coaching that army and police officers go via “to get paid that 2nd Modification proper and have all those weapons in general public.”
“None of those people safety controls will be imposed on our college students or anyone else who will come on to campus,” White reported, in accordance to WVPB.
Learners also elevated issues about the evaluate.
“Preventing hearth with fire has hardly ever experienced a excellent end result, and broadening the prospects that these risky weapons becoming brought into these environments — that are meant to be safe and sound for students and faculty — would just be including gas to the fireplace,” West Virginia Point out University scholar Olivia Smith testified, in accordance to the university’s pupil newspaper.
Dialogue in West Virginia’s condition legislature
The House’s minority chief, Doug Skaff, emphasised that resources should really be centered on offering mental wellness assistance to university pupils.
“Just since we have a supermajority listed here, just simply because you can move what ever you want, doesn’t necessarily mean you need to,” Skaff reported, referencing the Republican-dominated legislature, in accordance to The Involved Press.
However, a lot of Republican lawmakers supported the bill.
“The Next Modification is my gun allow, and that is all I have to say about that,” Del. Larry Kump mentioned, according to the AP.
How laws in other states compares
Comparable laws currently exists in 11 other states: Arkansas, Colorado, Ga, Idaho, Kansas, Mississippi, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Wisconsin.
Other states have taken diverse techniques to the issue.
In Montana, the state legislature handed a identical monthly bill to allow hid have on community college or university campuses. But the Montana Supreme Court reversed the regulation past June, Montana Community Radio reported.
In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott signed a invoice identified as the “campus have” regulation in 2015 it lets licensed persons to carry hid firearms but “offers community universities some discretion to control campus have,” in accordance to the College of Texas at Austin’s internet site.
For illustration, the University of Texas at Austin’s restrictions prohibit guns at athletic events and in companies wherever the majority of revenue is from alcoholic beverages sales. Guns are allowed in lecture rooms and common regions of residence halls.
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Source url On February 18th, 2021, West Virginia’s House of Delegates passed HB 2519, a bill allowing concealed carry on college campuses. This bill is all but headed to Governor Jim Justice, where it is expected to be signed and made into law. The bill would allow, but not require, each university to decide whether to allow the practice of carrying a concealed firearm on campus.
The vote was 67-31, with all Republicans voting in favor and all Democrats voting against the measure. It passed despite the protests of scientific organizations including the American Psychological Association and the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. The bill has ignited heated debates on both sides of the argument with gun rights advocates claiming an individual’s right to self-defense on college campuses and opponents arguing that allowing guns on campuses presents increased safety risks.
The bill requires that any individuals carrying weapons must have a permit and be at least 21 years of age. While there are still restrictions in place, this bill is seen by gun rights advocates as a positive move towards freedom in West Virginia. If passed, the bill will go into effect on July 1st, 2021.
Opposition to the bill has been strong, fueled by many student and faculty advocates who argue that the bill would increase the risk of danger to students and staff on college campuses. According to the National Alliance on Mental Health, “gun-carrying students could increase the risk of accidental gun violence and/or suicides” Student groups have voiced their disapproval of the bill due to its perceived ability to reduce the safety of campuses and place students and faculty in more dangerous positions.
The bill will be sent to Governor Jim Justice for his signature in the near future, and is expected to become law. While it may still be some time before the repercussions of this law are seen, the future of gun rights in West Virginia appears to be more secure than ever.