West Virginia governor signs campus carry gun bill

By JOHN RABY
Associated Press

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia’s governor has signed a bill allowing people with concealed carry permits to take firearms onto public college and university campuses. Gov. Jim Justice sighed the bill Wednesday, two weeks after a public hearing in which residents vehemently opposed the bill. The measure sailed through the Republican-dominated state Senate and House of Delegates. It prohibits the open carry of a firearm on a college or university campus. The bill allows institutions of higher learning to implement exceptions. It goes into effect in July 2024. Similar legislation has passed in 11 other states.