Open Carry Gun Bill Heads to the Governor

A proposal to let people 21 years old and up carry hidden guns without permits or training is headed back to Democratic Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin. Senators passed the bill Wednesday by a 24-9 margin. It includes the House’s $50 gun training tax credit, which could cost $3 million. It’s legal in West Virginia to carry a gun openly without a permit, like in a holster. The bill would let people conceal guns in public without permits; for instance, by wearing a coat. People ages 18 through 20 would need a permit and training with live firing. Tomblin vetoed a similar bill last year over law enforcement’s safety concerns. Only a handful of states don’t require concealed carry permits. The bill would increase penalties for felonies committed with a gun.