Bill Proposal In West Virginia Aims To Protect First Responders

By Micah Rate

New legislation proposed in the state of West Virginia would provide the state’s first responders with much-needed protection when responding to emergencies.

Under the state’s current law, first responders like firefighters and ambulance crew members are unable to carry firearms. House Bill 2916, which was introduced in the state’s legislature on Tuesday, would change that. Here’s more from NBC 4i:

The bill would authorize certain first responders to carry firearms. It would also authorize supervisors to authorize ambulance crew members, firefighters, rescue squad members, and emergency service personnel to carry firearms with the completion of training to carry a firearm.

Those allowed to carry firearms would have to first complete a firearms training and certification program. They would also be required to maintain certification in a manner equivalent to members of the State Police.

The delegates that are backing the legislation are David Pethtel (D), Roger Hanshaw (R), and Chad Lovejoy (D).

On a daily basis, first responders, who are unarmed, put themselves in harm’s way or must deal with unexpected situations. While it may not come to mind immediately, there have been cases where firemen responding to house fires have been shot and killed. In 2012, a New York man <a target="_blank" …Read the Rest

Source:: Bearing Arms