CHARLESTON, W.V. – Governor Tomblin signed into law Tuesday Senate Bill 317, creating uniform gun laws throughout the state. After last night’s action on the bill Senate President Jeff Kessler (D-Marshall), sponsor of SB 317, issued the following statement: “This sets up a uniform set of gun laws throughout West Virginia. In last year’s Home Rule legislation, there were restrictions implemented on having any gun ordinances for cities participating in the Home Rule Pilot Program, which was designed to give local officials more control. SB 317 takes firearms completely out of the Home Rule process and, instead, requires all municipalities to follow state and federal gun laws. I think it is better to have a uniform system of laws, rather than each city potentially having different laws. It is unfair to make cities throughout West Virginia choose between citizens’ Second Amendment rights and improving living conditions. ” |
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