West Virginia Poll on Constitutional Carry

By Dean Weingarten

West Virginia Poll on Constitutional Carry
West Virginia Poll on Constitutional Carry
Dean Weingarten
Dean Weingarten

Arizona – -(Ammoland.com)- A poll is being run in the statejournal.com, asking the following question:

Do you think the legislature should pass the bill that lets people carry a concealed weapon without a permit?

A gun reform bill, SB 347 is waiting to be signed by Governor Tomblin.  It was passed with overwhelming majorities in the West Virginia legislature.  Support was strongly bi-partisan, with 32-2 in favor in the Senate (14 Democrats voting in favor) and 71-29 in the House (20 Democrats voting in favor).

Internet polls measure the ratio of people who have enough interest to participate in the given poll.   Polls that pit second amendment supporters against disarmists routinely show margins of 3-10 to 1 in favor of protecting or restoring second amendment rights.  The current poll in West Virginia is running a bit low in those numbers, with 69% in favor of the constitutional carry reform bill, and 31% opposed.

It appears that there is a strong push by Michael Bloomberg’s organizations against the bill.  I have been informed that phone banks have been created to pressure Governor Tomblin to veto the bill.  Senator Manchin has issued a statement against the bill.

From statejournal.com:

 U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., issued a news release shortly after the House vote saying he opposed the measure.

“As a law-abiding gun owner, hunter, card-carrying life member of the NRA and Second Amendment advocate, I have always supported a West Virginian’s right to bear arms,” Manchin said. “There is not one West Virginian whose Second Amendment rights will be infringed without this bill. With the right to bear arms comes the responsibility to use it in a safe and reasonable manner. In West Virginia, we believe in gun sense, which is common sense, and it only makes common sense for concealed carry applicants to receive proper training. I commend the brave legislators who voted no and represented their constituents who know that this is irresponsible.”

Congressman Alex Mooney came out in favor of the bill:

CHARLES TOWN, WV – Today, Republican Congressman Alex Mooney (WV-2) commended members of the West Virginia Legislature who took a stand for constitutional rights by voting to pass SB 347, the Firearms Act of 2015.

“I want to commend state legislators who voted in an overwhelmingly bi-partisan manner, 103-31 between the House and the Senate, for constitutional carry.  Their vote protects the rights of responsible, law-abiding West Virginians.”

“I urge Governor Tomblin to immediately sign this bill into law to cement West Virginia’s place as a true defender of constitutional rights for gun-owning citizens.”

It is not known  if Governor Tomblin will sign the bill, but it appears to have veto proof majorities in the making.  Governor Tomblin signed a bill requiring confiscated firearm to be sold instead of destroyed, in 2012.    In 2014, he signed a bill that preempts local governments from creating a mishmash of gun laws throughout the state.

For those who wish to see what is happening with the poll here is a link: Link to the poll

On my browser, the poll is in the middle of the page, about a third of the way down.

Definition of disarmist.

c2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included. Link to Gun Watch

About Dean Weingarten;

Dean Weingarten has been a peace officer, a military officer, was on the University of Wisconsin Pistol Team for four years, and was first certified to teach firearms safety in 1973. He taught the Arizona concealed carry course for fifteen years until the goal of constitutional carry was attained. He has degrees in meteorology and mining engineering, and recently retired from the Department of Defense after a 30 year career in Army Research, Development, Testing, and Evaluation.

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gary freeman

Once again we see the Obama saga bleeding through on our senator and governor. No matter what the majority of the state citizens think or want, they support the liberal agenda. They have just told the citizens of the state of WV we are incapable of deciding what’s best. We will stand together at the polls.

Steve

I think this bill should become law, some naysayers might try to convince the public otherwise, because they think criminals/drug dealers, will use this to their advantage. Guess what folks these criminals already conceal their guns, wouldn’t it be nice to defend yourself, when confronted by this scum. I say an armed population is a safe population.

Ed

Your chart of the poll results is backwards/counterintuitive. Usually green means yes/go and red means no/stop. Given that many folks are highly visual, I’m thinking you goofed. Still nice to see good numbers, although they should be much higher in favor, given that this is “the land of the free and the home of the brave.”

Mike

Joe Manchin really thinks he is coming back as Governor? HAHAHA Joe’s no a james manchin. No gun Joe wont be forgiven this time he has a track record! BYE Earl just say no to nohe ! You guys couldn’t win dog catcher now,hide and watch!