Tomblin’s Veto of S.B. 347 a Critical Defeat for the NRA, Preserving Common Sense Safeguards to Keep West Virginians Safe
83% of Likely Voters in West Virginia Favor Requiring Permits for Concealed Carry of Handguns in Public
Everytown for Gun Safety and the West Virginia chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America applaud and thank Governor Tomblin for his veto of S.B. 347—legislation pushed by the NRA that would have dismantled West Virginia’s concealed carry permitting system by allowing people to carry concealed, loaded guns in public with no permit and no training required.
“After years of operating in state legislatures unchecked, the NRA’s agenda of putting gun lobby interests above the safety of our communities is now being defeated in state after state, and today, here in West Virginia,” said Dee Price, a volunteer with the West Virginia chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. “It’s just common sense that if a person wants to carry a loaded, hidden handgun in public they need to demonstrate they have a clean recent violent criminal record and have been trained to handle and carry a gun safely. Governor Tomblin listened to the strong law enforcement opposition to this bill and to the 83 percent of West Virginians who support the current permit system. Thanks to Governor Tomblin’s leadership—common sense won in West Virginia today.”
Last week, Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund and the West Virginia chapter of Moms Demand Action released a new bipartisan poll, available here, that finds 83 percent of likely voters in West Virginia – including 81 percent of gun owners – favor requiring permits to carry a concealed handgun in public in West Virginia. The poll also revealed that 50 percent of West Virginia voters are less likely to vote for a candidate who supported a repeal of permitting requirements like SB 347.
In addition to releasing the poll, in efforts to raise awareness about the dangerous bill, mail pieces targeting both parties hit mailboxes along with a days long digital ad buy in the Charleston area that focused on the widespread opposition in West Virginia to SB 347.
About Everytown for Gun Safety
Everytown is the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country with more than 2.5 million supporters and more than 40,000 donors including moms, mayors, survivors, and everyday Americans who are fighting for public safety measures that respect the Second Amendment and help save lives. At the core of Everytown are Mayors Against Illegal Guns and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a grassroots movement of American mothers founded the day after the Sandy Hook tragedy. Learn more at www.everytown.org and follow us @Everytown
About Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America
Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America is a grassroots movement of American mothers fighting for public safety measures that respect the Second Amendment and protect people from gun violence. Moms Demand Action campaigns for new and stronger solutions to lax gun laws and loopholes that jeopardize the safety of our children and families. Since its inception after the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Moms Demand Action has established a chapter in every state of the country and along with Mayors Against Illegal Guns is part of Everytown for Gun Safety, the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country with more than 2.5 million members and more than 40,000 donors. For more information or to get involved visit www.momsdemandaction.org. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MomsDemandAction or on Twitter at @MomsDemand
