I read where it was well into 6 figures in WV to block this.

I figure of every "guns are scary" call they probably received 8 "pass this bill"

A handful of ads and a few out of state lobbyists promising campaign $upport, don't balance out a few hundred or more constituents knocking on the office door or calling to fry the switchboard for a week or two at a time. No substitute for a massive and repeated shoe leather effort.

We learned that in Illinois, when we were pushing for concealed carry every year. By the time the court decision came down the legislators had been seeing 8,000 to 10,000 of us on Illinois gun owners lobby day (I-GOLD) and talking to some of us for a few years on office visits. They actually knew some of us personally by then.

Brandon Phelps (D) was the author of our Shall Issue bill and had wide, bi-partisan support, from everywhere except Chicago. They wanted May Issue with blanket restrictions for all businesses unless they made an opt out request.

Thankfully, Chicago has such a horseshit record on gun control they weren't taken seriously.

Carry. People need some training before being allowed to concealed carry.

Proficiency should be demonstrated. There are cops who miss bad guys at point-blank range during an adrenalin dump.

Edited to add: The above being said, the cost of the permit should be low, given that the citizen has to pay for training and/or a proficiency demo to a certified instructor.

... the "2A side" hammers them. In fact, the latter side is making the controllers dance in the dust as in a T.V. Western. Even sensible ideas and requirements are a no-show. The complete bankruptcy and extremist discourse of the banners is fully evident when they arrogantly ask why pro-2A folks don't support something like required training for carry, or UBCs: They want US to do what they can't, so they can continue unabated their extremism and potty talk.

Such detachment from reality; such self-indulgence in pop-morality.

then I think that bolsters the argument for going permitless. It also bolsters the permitless argument when anti-choice politicians abuse permit requirements in order to keep ordinary people from carrying, regardless of how well qualified.

I haven't looked into it, but I wonder if the Virginia canceling Virginia's CCW reciprocity agreements as an apparent payback to Bloomberg may have helped add momentum to the West Virginia bill. I was glad to see McAuliffe shoot that down, since I visit Virginia regularly and I prefer not to open carry.

Yet another constitutional carry state! The Second Amendment is the only permit you need. Great work, West Virginia.

LOL....

3 out of 5 of us live in WV.

I guess earl ray didn't get his way. This had huge support from the citizens of WV, they're also known as voters so their opinion and desires count.

I just recently read somewhere that gun control continues to advance at the state level.

Wherever could I have come across such an erroneous assertion...?

it is if your unlucky enough to live in CA. NY. or NJ.

I'd also point out that Illinois has been moving in a more egalitarian direction on guns in the last few years, especially on carry licensure.

As with most states that pass CCW, our regulations continue to loosen up as the Illinois State Police and legislators realize the streets that are running red with blood are the same streets where guns are the most restricted.

(Are you paying attention Tom Dart, you gelled hair lying weasel?)

This year at I-GOLD, among other issues, we're working on getting supressors legalized in Illinois.

...that there will be shootouts in the streets.

Just like in these terribly misguided states:

Such as Vermont, which has had permitless carry since colonial times. And is one of the 5 safest states in the US.

Or Maine, which went Constitutional carry on New Year's Day 2015. Also one of the 5 safest.

Or New Hampshire, which will send you a handgun license in the mail. Similar statistics.

I'll rather stay in the places I feel most comfortable, due to strict licensing laws:

Maybe I'll go to New Jersey or Maryland.

See y'all in Trenton or Baltimore.