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W. Va. Governor Vetoes Concealed Carry Proposal
By: Associated Press
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) – For a second-straight year, West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has vetoed a proposal to let people carry hidden guns without permits or training.
The Democrat vetoed the bill over safety concerns from law enforcement. He nixed similar legislation last year.
He announced the decision Thursday at a news conference where he was surrounded by police officers.
The Republican-led Legislature could override his veto with a simple majority vote.
It’s legal in West Virginia to carry a gun openly without a permit, like in a holster.
The bill would let people conceal guns in public without permits; for instance, by wearing a coat. People ages 18 through 20 would need a permit and training with live firing.
Only a handful of states don’t require concealed carry permits.