SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 18
(By Senator Grubb)
Directing the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to make
a study of the advisability of controlling the sale and/or
purchase of handguns and assault weapons in West Virginia.
Whereas, There is overwhelming support of the citizens of
West Virginia for article three, section twenty-two of the
constitution of this state, commonly known as the "Right to Keep
and Bear Arms Amendment"; and
Whereas, Notwithstanding that support there is increasing
evidence of the need to establish reasonable, effective and
constitutionally-sound controls on the sale and purchase of
certain deadly weapons, including assault weapons and handguns;
and
Whereas, Congress is currently considering passage of the
so-called Brady bill, a measure that would require a one-week
waiting period for the sale of handguns; and
Whereas, The state of Virginia has recently enacted a law
limiting the sale of handguns and assault weapons to no more than
one per person per month; and
Whereas, The aforementioned Virginia statute may result in
a dramatic increase in the sale of handguns and assault weapons
in West Virginia to unsavory individuals for illegal purposes;
and
Whereas, Nearly four thousand two hundred teenagers were
killed with firearms in the year one thousand nine hundred
ninety; and
Whereas, There were nineteen thousand seven hundred
twenty-two firearm deaths among children and young adults, and a
total of thirty-seven thousand one hundred fifty-five firearm
deaths among Americans of all ages, in the year one thousand nine
hundred ninety; and
Whereas, The ready availability and easy access to deadly
weapons is an important contributor to the escalation in
firearm-related deaths; and
Whereas, Reasonable waiting periods, limits on the number of
firearms that can be purchased in a specified time period, the
establishment of a process to obtain criminal history record
information, and similar measures, could play a key role in
stemming the explosion in firearm-related deaths and injuries;
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby
directed to review, examine and study the advisability of
enacting reasonable controls on the sale and/or purchase of
handguns and assault weapons in West Virginia; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 1994,
on its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with
drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its
recommendations; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct
this study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary
legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint
Committee on Government and Finance.