In a bold move that could position West Virginia as the undisputed leader in Second Amendment protection, state Senators Chris Rose and Zack Maynard introduced Senate Bill 1071 on February 23, 2026, the final day for new Senate bills this session. Titled the Public Defense and Provisioning Act, SB1071 would create a state-run Office of Public Defense within the West Virginia State Police to procure and sell modern, select-fire machine guns directly to qualified, law-abiding citizens.
The bill is now bottled up in the Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Sen. Tom Willis (R-Berkeley). Without a public hearing and swift advancement, this historic legislation will die before it ever reaches the floor. That is why every gun owner, hunter, veteran, and freedom-loving West Virginian must immediately pick up the phone and email Chairman Willis at 304-357-7867 and tom.willis@wvsenate.gov.
Tell him clearly: “Schedule a hearing for SB1071 now. West Virginians demand the right to defend themselves with the most effective arms available under the law.”
This is not hyperbole. SB1071 represents one of the most significant opportunities in decades to reclaim ground lost to federal overreach. For nearly 40 years, the 1986 Hughes Amendment has banned civilians from purchasing newly manufactured machine guns. Pre-1986 transferable machine guns now sell for tens of thousands of dollars due to artificial scarcity. The result? Only the wealthy elite or those who already own them can afford true select-fire capability.
Click the link to read the whole article: SB1071 Could Restore Access to Modern Machine Guns
