New legislation would allow state to sell machine guns to qualified WV citizens

CHARLESTON, W.Va (WVVA) – West Virginia lawmakers have introduced legislation that would allow the state to sell machine guns to qualified residents, marking a significant expansion of firearm rights in the state.
Senate Bill 1071, introduced February 23, would create an Office of Public Defense within the West Virginia State Police with the authority to acquire and sell machine guns to “Qualified Persons” eligible to own firearms under state and federal law.
According to the bill, the legislation is grounded in the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Article III, Section 22 of the West Virginia Constitution, which guarantees the right of people to keep and bear arms for the defense of self, family, home and state.
The bill notes that federal law permits state governments to transfer machine guns to law-abiding citizens under the National Firearms Act of 1934 and the Gun Control Act of 1968.