West Virginia Secures 30th Concealed Carry Handgun Reciprocity Agreement

West Virginia
West Virginia

CHARLESTON –-(Ammoland.com)- Attorney General Patrick Morrisey today announced that West Virginia now has full reciprocity with the State of Alabama, ensuring that citizens’ concealed handgun licenses issued by either state will be recognized by the other.

“This agreement marks the 30th state with which West Virginia has full reciprocity and the sixth agreement reached since July,” Attorney General Morrisey said.

“The Second Amendment ensures that citizens have the right to keep and bear arms. Under my tenure as Attorney General, we will continue to protect the Second Amendment rights of both West Virginians and those from other states who travel here.”

A change in Alabama statute earlier this year enabled permits issued in West Virginia to be recognized by that state. Once that happened, West Virginia wanted to recognize Alabama’s permits as well, but needed a formal letter from the Alabama Governor’s Office. The Office of the West Virginia Attorney General recently received that letter.

“Both West Virginia and Alabama have histories of loyally defending the Second Amendment, and I am pleased that the states can enjoy mutual recognition of concealed handgun licenses,” Morrisey said.

“Many people from West Virginia enjoy traveling to Alabama for work, vacations, recreational activities such as hunting or fishing, or to visit family, and vice versa. These agreements will enable citizens of both states to continue to do so without wondering if their right to carry a concealed weapon has been diminished.”

Since this summer, the Office of the West Virginia Attorney General has added six states — Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa and New Hampshire — to the list of states with which it has full reciprocity or mutual recognition agreements.

Under the new agreements and pursuant to W. Va. Code § 61-7-6a, a valid Alabama permit or license to possess or carry a handgun is valid in West Virginia for the carrying of a concealed handgun so long as the following conditions are met:

  • The permit or license holder is 21 years of age or older;
  • The permit or license is in his or her immediate possession; and
  • The permit or license holder is not a resident of the State of West Virginia.

West Virginia residents with a valid concealed handgun license may legally carry a concealed handgun in states with full reciprocity agreements as well as states that formally recognize West Virginia permits. West Virginia has full handgun reciprocity agreements with 30 states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming.

Furthermore, West Virginians with a valid CHL also may legally carry in the following six states, subject to the limitations of each particular state’s laws: Indiana, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, Vermont, and Wisconsin. It is worth noting Vermont law does not restrict who may carry a firearm, and Wisconsin only recognizes West Virginia concealed handgun licenses issued after June 8, 2012. Any concealed handgun license issued by these six states may not be honored by the State of West Virginia until further agreements are reached.

For information regarding West Virginia concealed handgun licenses, please visit the Attorney General’s website at www.wvago.gov/gunrecep.cfm.

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Pepe

Hey, what about New Jersey? Just kidding.