4/2/2010
Gov. Joe Manchin today released the following statement about the veto of House Bill 4521, which would have provided a state sales tax holiday for the purchase of firearms:
“Like most West Virginians, I am a proud supporter of the Second Amendment. We recognize the impact and importance of shooting sports and hunting to our state.
“However, I have spoken to the NRA national leadership and they understand that this is not a piece of legislation I intend to sign. If approved, this bill would cost us $25,000 a year in lost sales tax revenue and could result in as much as $3 million a year in lost revenue if we are in violation of the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement.
“These are challenging and uncertain economic times for our state, and as governor I have the responsibility to look down the road and continue to make decisions for our future. At this time, I cannot put our state in a position to lose vital tax revenues and so, I do not believe the passage of House Bill 4521 meets the standards we have set for responsible government.
“I appreciate the NRA’s understanding of our concerns and I am confident we will continue to have a strong relationship with this organization that represents so many of our residents and their interests in the shooting sports.”
Contact Information
Jama Jarrett or Melvin Smith
304-558-2000