West Virginia: Sunday Hunting Legislation Passes Committee

Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed Senate Bill 345.  Sponsored by state Senator Mark Maynard (R-6) SB 345 seeks to expand Sunday hunting opportunities on private land with written permission.  Currently, West Virginia allows hunting on Sundays in some counties on some private land.  SB 345 would remove the confusing patchwork of counties where hunting on Sundays on private land is not allowed. SB 345 now moves to the full West Virginia Senate for consideration.  Please contact your state Senator and urge them to SUPPORT SB 345.

While hunting is restricted in West Virginia in certain counties on Sundays, other activities such as fishing, hiking and target shooting remain perfectly legal on the seventh day of the week.  Between work, school and other obligations, Sunday hunting bans work to discourage hunting at a time when hunter recruitment and participation must be encouraged in order to save our hunting heritage.  Restrictions on Sunday hunting effectively treat hunters as second-class citizens and tacitly endorse the view of animal extremists that there is something wrong with hunting.

Again, please click the “Take Action” button above to contact your state Senator and urge them to SUPPORT SB 345.

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Also, House Bill 2613 was recently introduced in the West Virginia House of Delegates.  HB 2613 would allow state, county or municipal employees with a license to carry a concealed weapon to carry a firearm for self-defense, unless otherwise prohibited by law.  HB 2613 does not change the list of prohibited places to carry for a state, county or municipal employee. The fundamental right to self-defense should not stop simply because you are a public employee.