CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Legislation approved in the state Senate would allow adults ages 18 to 20 to carry a concealed weapon without a permit. Presently the age group can only carry concealed if they have completed a training course and obtained a conceal carry permit. Those age 21 and over do not need a permit to carry firearms concealed in the state.
Monongalia County Senator Chris Rose said the bill is righting a wrong.
“Eighteen and 20 year old’s have fought in every major war this country has had to defend or rights and freedoms. What they have been denied so far is their right to Constitutionally Carry even though they went over and put themselves in harm’s way to defend those rights,” Rose said on the Senate floor. “Once you’re an adult, you have the same Constitutional rights as every single other adult in the state of West Virginia, including the most important one the Second Amendment which protects the rest of them.”
Senator Joey Garcia of Marion County was still skeptical and believed requiring a training course would be a worthwhile condition for the right to carry.
“That is the difference between someone who has served in the military and has had that training who understands how to use a firearm as opposed to those who have not. I think that’s a reasonable requirement and that’s why we have it in our code right now,” said Garcia.
The measure passed on a vote of 31-3.