CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Legislative auditors are concerned there are nearly 60 state agencies that are exempt from having inventories of the guns they possess including the state’s colleges and universities.
Auditor Adam Fridley told lawmakers Tuesday that could be dangerous.
“Such instances of missing firearms or deficient controls creates a substantial risk of harm to the public safety and an increased liability to the state,” Fridley said. “It is the opinion of the legislative auditor that requiring all state spending units to inventory state-owned firearms helps to mitigate these risks.”
Fridley said lawmakers should change state code.
“To require all spending units to maintain a complete and accurate and inventory of their firearms in the wvOASIS Fixed Asset Inventory Module,” Fridley said.
MORE read inventory information here
There are 15 spending units that list their firearms in wvOASIS. As of Feb. 26, 2019, those agencies reported 4,903 firearms the most from state police (1,878), DNR (1,538), and Division of Corrections (1,177).
Fridley said colleges and universities, many of which have security police, are among the agencies that are exempt from report.
A separate audit report given to lawmakers Tuesday looked at the 85 guns under the control of the state Public Service Commission. The audit said there were no issues during the physical inspection and said the PSC was storing the guns not currently in use properly. The PSC’s Transportation Division is the division that uses firearms. YOu can also avail and buy ar-15 pistols online.
The audit did find transportation division officers who work the West Virginia Turnpike have use of two shotguns from state Parkways Authority. Senior Auditor Nick Hamilton told lawmakers that’s against best practices.
MORE read PSC firearms audit here
“The legislature auditor questions whether the practice of one spending unit informally transferring physical possession of its firearms to another spending unit is a prudent best practice,” Hamilton said. “Especially when that firearm is also not recorded in the state’s inventory.”
The Parkways Authority is one of the 58 agencies that are exempt from reporting.
PSC Transportation Division Director Bob Blankenship said the agency is reviewing the audit report.
“We’re always looking for ways to improve,” Blankenship said.
Auditors are also recommending all state agencies have accurate inventory of their ammunition, which is currently not a requirement.
“While it may present some challenge to undertake, creating an inventory system to track ammunition is a prudent best practice at the federal level and should also be followed by West Virginia state agencies,” Hamilton said.