WV: Governor Tomblin Vetoes Constitutional Carry, Again!

As shown on the West Virginia legislative page, Governor Tomblin has vetoed the Constitutional carry bill for the second year in a row. Today, 3 March, 2016, the bill was recorded as vetoed. From state.wv.us:

Vetoed
H	Vetoed by Governor 3/3/16	03/03/16
H	Vetoed by Governor 3/3/16 - House Journal	03/03/16
S	To Governor 2/26/16 - Senate Journal	02/27/16

The West Virginia legislature can override his veto with simple majorities in both houses.  From wv.us:

Action by the Governor 

After a bill passes both chambers in the same form, it is sent to the governor. While the Legislature is in session, the governor has five days to approve or veto a bill he or she receives. After the Legislature adjourns, the governor has 15 days to act on most bills. However, the budget bill and supplemental appropriations bills must be acted upon by the governor within five days regardless of when they are received. If the governor does not act within these time limits, bills automatically become law without his or her signature.
 
Overriding a Veto

 If the Legislature is still in session when the governor vetoes a bill, a simple majority vote of the members of both legislative bodies is necessary to override the veto. In cases when a budget bill or supplemental appropriation bill is vetoed, a two-thirds vote of the members of both houses is needed to override the veto.

The West Virgina Legislature has until 12 March to override Governor Tomblin's veto.  That is six working days from now.  The bill passed with overwhelming support.  68-31 in the House, 24-9 in the Senate.  Now we will see if the legislators really meant it when they voteed for Constitutional carry.


Six states have restored constitutional carry to various degrees.  They are Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Kansas, Maine and Wyoming.  Vermont has had constitutional carry for its entire history, so it did not need to restore it. 

In addition to West Virginia, legislation is also being considered in Indiana, Colorado, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah.  Mississippi enacted a law last year that is very close to Constitutional carry.  Constitutional carry is the law in 99% of Montana and Idaho.

15 years ago, Constitutional carry was a dream for most Second Amendment supporters.  Many derided it as unobtainable.  It has been restored in 6 states, and is being debated in 15 others, some of which have passed bills with veto proof majorities in previous years.

 ©2016 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.  Link to Gun Watch