Legislative Update Week 3: It’s About to Get Ugly

Everyone agrees we have a gun violence problem in our nation. What we disagree on is the solution. One side wants to make it harder to acquire firearms and ban assault style weapons. The other wants to arm more ‘good guys’ to engage in shootouts when a gunman shows up at one of our schools or colleges. This second option is what’s moving in our legislature right now at both the K-12 and college level. 

In addition to guns in schools, the legislature is taking action on a number of other controversial issues that in a sane and rational world wouldn’t be taking up time better spent addressing real issues affecting our state. 

Keep reading for more on what is, or isn’t happening, as the case may be, under the dome along with actions you can take, and be sure to check our events calendar for opportunities for learning and action in the coming days and weeks. 

In addition to getting this weekly update, there are lots of resources for keeping up on the daily hijinks at the ‘Bad Idea Factory’ (as Delegate Pushkin often calls it). Here is a short list:

• Mountain State Spotlight has a daily digest of their antics. Sign up here to get it in your inbox!
• WV Public Broadcasting has thankfully brought back their daily 30 minute Legislature Today simulcast to TV and radio.
• WVPB veterans Giles Snyder and Dave Mistich, who now work at NPR, are providing coverage of the legislative session via 60 Days. 
• WV MetroNews has excellent and timely coverage.
• The Charleston Gazette-Mail has a paywall, so consider an online subscription (first month free). Mike Tony’s and Phil Kabler’s articles alone are worth the cost.
• Black by God is a community-led news organization based in West Virginia focusing on Black issues and voices, and holding government accountable to the people. Check out the BBG Citizen’s Guide to Online Advocacy here. 
• The WV Legislature’s website is a great resource for live audio and video of the action and tracking bills of interest.
• Search for @wvsenate and @wvhouse on www.twitter.com for minute by minute updates on floor sessions and announcements of committee meetings. 
• Our friends at the WV Environmental Council, WV Center on Budget and Policy, WV Rivers Coalition, WV FREE, ACLU of WV and WV NOW all are watching different parts of the elephant(s) in the room along with other partners and allies.

And speaking of resources, remember, Citizen Action depends on YOU!

You are the Action in Citizen Action! As you read this update, please take some time to reach out to lawmakers on the issues that resonate with you. Democracy is more than just voting every election. Even if our preferred candidates didn’t win, we must engage with those who did to make our voices heard. Even if our lawmakers often make choices we disagree with, they still need to hear other perspectives and positions. Thank you for being an active citizen and sharing your thoughts, expertise and solutions to problems and challenges facing our state. One other way you can be active is with a supporting membership to WV Citizen Action. Please keep those renewals and new memberships coming in! Thanks, again, for your support.