Charleston, WV –Attorney General Patrick Morrisey took a bold stand for the Second Amendment this week. On Tuesday, April 15th, Morrisey advised all county sheriffs in West Virginia to continue to process concealed carry permits—even if the applications come via the mail!
He said that while ‘social distancing’ is still appropriate, it is not enough of a reason to deny people their Second Amendment right to self-defense. He made the point that nothing in the law prevents citizens from applying by mail!
Morrisey said, “Nothing in state code requires applicants for concealed handgun licenses to show up in person. While we want our residents to be safe and practice good social distancing, we also want to ensure they can still exercise their right to keep and bear arms.”
Morrisey’s office sent letters to all 55 sheriffs in the state to ensure their offices knew how to process mailed applications.
Meanwhile, West Virginia doesn’t even require a permit for gun owners over 21-years-old to carry. Citizens in that great state get to enjoy their right to permit-less carry without paying fees or doing paperwork! Still, the permit is encouraged.
With the permit, gun owners would enjoy whatever reciprocity other states have with West Virginia. They would also be able to automatically be exempt from the NICS background check before purchasing a firearm, having already met those requirements to get the permit.
Attorney Generals Taking a Stand
West Virginia’s Morrisey joins Texas’s Attorney General Ken Paxton in supporting the Second Amendment while so many state authorities nationwide are tearing gun rights to shreds.
Paxton didn’t mince words in a letter written last week to a Representative Burrows of House District 83. Burrows wrote to ask Paxton for official clarification on whether or not cities or counties could prohibit gun stores from operating. Paxton said,
“While the Legislature granted local officials certain emergency powers to address disaster situations, that local authority is not without limitation. Relevant to your question, provisions in the Local Government Code prohibit municipalities and counties from regulating, among other things, the transfer, possession, ownership, or sale of firearms, notwithstanding any other law.” (Emphasis added by S.A.D.)
It’s good to see this representation of our rights! There are still civil authorities who know that their power is derived from the people, not wielded over the people.
Lord knows how many will remember that when this Corona Virus catastrophe is over.