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West Virginia gun rights proponents should have little to worry about in the Mountain State.
WV legislators have introduced 33 bills to expand or protect gun rights.
While Congress and some states are considering assault weapon bans and background checks to recent mass shootings in Connecticut, Colorado and elsewhere, state lawmakers are seeking to allow firearms in schools and at the state Capitol, block enforcement of any new federal gun laws, and declare all future control measures, whether federal, state or local, invalid.
One bill seeks to strike down gun ordinances in three WV municipalities, including a measure passed in Charleston several years ago that limits the purchases of handguns to one a month, with a buyer waiting 72 hours before receiving the weapon.
Charleston mayor, Republican Danny Jones, is opposed to striking the law, which was passed to prevent drug dealers from Detroit and other cities who came to Charleston selling drugs to purchase large amounts of unrestricted guns in the city, to return to their cities that have strict gun buying laws.
Jones said it was a big problem, they made money coming and going from West Virginia. The guns then command high prices in areas with strict gun laws.
WEST VIRGINIA LEADER IN EXPORTED GUNS USED IN CRIMES
"I don't know how well they've (legislature) followed the NRA script in the past, but they're clearly trying to follow it in the future," Jones said of the legislators.
Other measures would exempt firearms from federal rules when they are made and then sold within the state's borders, and go after the medical license of any physician who asks a patient about having guns to gather statistics or justify counseling.
At least 49 of 134 members of the legislature belong to the gun lobbying National Rifle Association.
The NRA has noticed this legislative session's efforts, applauding them in a bulletin:
"The NRA is proud to work with an overwhelmingly bi-partisan group of state legislators in Charleston who appreciate and share the same profound respect and support for the Second Amendment as do our members in West Virginia."
One or more bills have been introduced to expand the rights of the state's "Stand Your Ground" code.
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