GOA-Backed Legislation in West Virginia Would Restore Lawful Machine Gun Transfers

February 23, 2026
11:55 am

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Gun Owners of America just dropped a bombshell that's got the 2A world buzzing: West Virginia Senators Chris Rose and Z. Maynard have introduced GOA-drafted legislation to greenlight a state entity buying and transferring machine guns to qualified, law-abiding citizens—strictly under existing federal rules. This isn't some pie-in-the-sky dream; it's a targeted strike at the Hughes Amendment's lingering chokehold from the 1986 Firearm Owners Protection Act, which halted new civilian machine gun registrations without repealing the legal framework for transfers of pre-1986 beauties. By creating a state mechanism to facilitate these lawful dealings, West Virginia could become a beacon for enthusiasts, sidestepping the bureaucratic black hole that's driven NFA item prices into the stratosphere (think $20K+ for a functional M16). The genius here lies in the precision—it's not about flooding the market with new full-auto fun; it's restoring what's already legal federally, just logjammed by red tape and ATF foot-dragging. Imagine a Mountain State registry streamlining dealer-to-civilian transfers, potentially slashing wait times and costs while boosting local FFL economies. For the 2A community, this is pure momentum: if it passes, it sets a template for red states like Texas or Arizona to copy-paste, chipping away at the machine guns are for criminals only narrative peddled by gun-grabbers. GOA's involvement signals serious firepower behind it, fresh off their wins in blocking ATF pistol brace rules. Critics will cry wild west, but data from permissive states shows zero uptick in misuse—full-auto crime is a myth perpetuated by Hollywood, not headlines. Bottom line: This bill could turbocharge West Virginia's pro-gun cred, drawing suppressors, SBRs, and now MG enthusiasts to the First State of Freedom. 2A warriors, contact your legislators—rally behind HB [bill number if available] and watch the dominoes fall. If successful, it's not just about owning a belt-fed beast; it's reclaiming the full spectrum of our rights, one transfer at a time. Stay vigilant, stay armed.

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Gun Owners of America just dropped a bombshell that’s got the 2A world buzzing: West Virginia Senators Chris Rose and Z. Maynard have introduced GOA-drafted legislation to greenlight a state entity buying and transferring machine guns to qualified, law-abiding citizens—strictly under existing federal rules. This isn’t some pie-in-the-sky dream; it’s a targeted strike at the Hughes Amendment’s lingering chokehold from the 1986 Firearm Owners Protection Act, which halted new civilian machine gun registrations without repealing the legal framework for transfers of pre-1986 beauties. By creating a state mechanism to facilitate these lawful dealings, West Virginia could become a beacon for enthusiasts, sidestepping the bureaucratic black hole that’s driven NFA item prices into the stratosphere (think $20K+ for a functional M16).

The genius here lies in the precision—it’s not about flooding the market with new full-auto fun; it’s restoring what’s already legal federally, just logjammed by red tape and ATF foot-dragging. Imagine a Mountain State registry streamlining dealer-to-civilian transfers, potentially slashing wait times and costs while boosting local FFL economies. For the 2A community, this is pure momentum: if it passes, it sets a template for red states like Texas or Arizona to copy-paste, chipping away at the machine guns are for criminals only narrative peddled by gun-grabbers. GOA’s involvement signals serious firepower behind it, fresh off their wins in blocking ATF pistol brace rules. Critics will cry wild west, but data from permissive states shows zero uptick in misuse—full-auto crime is a myth perpetuated by Hollywood, not headlines.

Bottom line: This bill could turbocharge West Virginia’s pro-gun cred, drawing suppressors, SBRs, and now MG enthusiasts to the First State of Freedom. 2A warriors, contact your legislators—rally behind HB [bill number if available] and watch the dominoes fall. If successful, it’s not just about owning a belt-fed beast; it’s reclaiming the full spectrum of our rights, one transfer at a time. Stay vigilant, stay armed.

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