H. B. 2229

         (By Delegate Doyle)

         [Introduced January 11, 2012

; referred to the

         Committee on the Judiciary.]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §61-7-16, relating to limiting the purchase of handguns to two guns per month; exempting law enforcement, correctional facilities and private security companies from the limitation; providing criminal penalties; and exempting antique firearms from the limitation.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §61-7-16, to read as follows:

ARTICLE 7. DANGEROUS WEAPONS.

§61-7-16. Limitation on purchase of handguns.

    (a) A person who is not a licensed firearms dealer, or a member of a law-enforcement agency or a state or local correctional facility, or a private security company licensed to do business in this state, may not purchase more than two handguns within any thirty-day period. Any person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined up to $200 or confined in jail up to ten days, or both fined and confined.

    (b) A licensed firearms dealer may not sell to any person who is not a licensed firearms dealer, or a member of a law-enforcement agency, or a state or local correctional facility, or a private security company licensed to do business in this state, more than two handguns within any thirty-day period. Any person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined up to $200 or confined in jail up to ten days, or both fined and confined.

    (c) The restrictions on the sale of handguns set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of this section do not apply to the sale of antique handguns.

    NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to limit the purchase of handguns to two guns per month. The bill exempts law enforcement, correctional facilities, and private security companies from the limitation while providing criminal penalties. Finally, it exempts

antique firearms from the limitation.

    §61-7-16 is new; therefore, it has been completely underscored.