WV Machine Gun Bill Clears Committee – Then Faces Pushback

Summary

The West Virginia Senate Judiciary Committee advanced Senate Bill 1071 (Public Defense and Provisioning Act) on March 2, 2026, aiming to create a state-run office to sell newly manufactured machine guns and military-grade firearms directly to qualified residents. Sponsored by Senators Chris Rose and Zack Maynard with GOA's assistance, the bill seeks to bypass the 1986 Hughes Amendment by leveraging a federal exemption for state transfers. Despite its passage out of committee, the legislation faces significant legal pushback regarding its federal legality.