CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A bill that has been proposed in previous sessions is again making its way through the West Virginia Legislature as the Senate Judiciary Committee has advanced the Campus Self-Defense Act, a bill that would allow college students to carry on campus.
Current West Virginia law states that qualified persons 21 years of age or older can carry concealed deadly weapons without a license within West Virginia. With limited exceptions such as service in the armed forces, provisional licenses are required for all residents 18 to 21 years old who wish to carry a concealed handgun in West Virginia.
Senate Bill 10 would allow the carrying of concealed pistols or revolvers at West Virginia institutions of higher education, the bill would not apply to private institutions.
Currently, public institutions in West Virginia can have an individual charged with trespassing if they bring a gun on campus and refuse to leave. Under the proposed bill, the institutions would no longer have the power to issue such policies.
The bill does come with some exceptions as carrying would not be allowed at any organized sporting event on campus that has more than 1,000 spectators, even with a concealed carry permit.
According to the bill, carrying on campus would also be prohibited at daycare facilities, restricted facilities where law enforcement is operating, or an area of a state institution that has adequate security measures.
West Virginia University President Gordon Gee and Marshall University President Brad Smith released a joint statement today announcing their stance against the Campus Self-Defense Act.
“We, at West Virginia University and Marshall University, support local control, and we believe that our boards of governors are best suited to decide whether guns should be permitted on campus. We, therefore, do not support statewide campus carry.”
The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced the bill on a voice vote with the recommendation that it be reported to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass.