West Virginia Gun Laws
Gun Laws Overview
RIFLES & SHOTGUNS | HANDGUNS | |
---|---|---|
Permit to Purchase | No | No |
Registration of Firearms | No | No |
Licensing of Owners | No | No |
Permit to Carry | No | No* |
*A permit to carry is available, but it is not required to carry a handgun either openly or concealed for individuals 21 years of age or over. The list and map below are included as a tool to assist you in validating your information. We have made every effort to report the information correctly, however reciprocity and recognition agreements are subject to frequent change. The information is not intended as legal advice or a restatement of law and does not include: restrictions that may be placed on non-resident permits, individuals under the age of 21, qualifying permit classes, and/or any other factor which may limit reciprocity and/or recognition. For any particular situation, a licensed local attorney must be consulted for an accurate interpretation. YOU MUST ABIDE WITH ALL LAWS: STATE, FEDERAL AND LOCAL. West Virginia only honors permits or licenses of individuals 21 years of age or over. |
STATE STATUS | |
---|---|
Castle Doctrine | Enacted |
No-Net Loss | Enacted |
Right to Carry Confidentiality | Enacted |
Right to Carry in Restaurants | Legal |
Right To Carry Laws | No Permit Required |
Right To Carry Reciprocity and Recognition | Conditional Recognition |
Right to Keep & Bear Arms State Constitutional Provisions | With Provisions |
Laws on Purchase, Possession and Carrying of Firearms
Purchase
It is unlawful for any person to sell, give, rent or lend a firearm to a person prohibited from possessing a firearm. MORE |
Possession
No state permit is required to possess a rifle, shotgun or handgun. MORE |
Carry
West Virginia is a permitless carry state. A person who is not prohibited from possessing a firearm may carry a firearm openly or concealed. MORE |
Machine Guns
It is unlawful to carry, transport or possess any machine gun or sub-machine gun or fully automatic weapon unless properly federally licensed. |
Preemption
...neither a municipality nor the governing body of any municipality may limit the right of any person to purchase, possess, transfer, own, carry, transport, sell or store any revolver, pistol, rifle or shotgun or any ammunition or ammunition components... MORE |
Range Protection
Except as provided in this section, a person may not maintain a nuisance action for noise against a shooting range located in the vicinity of that person's property if the range was established as of the date of the person acquiring the property. MORE |
Miscellaneous
Persons under the age of 18 may not carry or possess firearms unless on family premises or on other property with permission of the owner or lessee. Also excepted is lawful hunting or traveling to or from a hunting site. MORE |
Saturday, August 5, 2006
(Fairfax, VA) -- The National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) is pleased to announce it's endorsement of ...
Friday, May 5, 2006
Early in-person voting ends tomorrow, May 6, for the 2006 Primary elections to be held Tuesday, May 9. ...
Friday, May 5, 2006
Some West Virginia members of the National Rifle Association recently received an orange postcard in their mailboxes, the ...
Friday, April 28, 2006
Early in-person voting ends May 6, for the 2006 Primary elections to be held Tuesday, May 9. NRA ...
Friday, March 31, 2006
On Thursday, March 30, Governor Joe Manchin III (D) signed HB 3119, the NRA-supported “No-Net-Loss of Hunting Lands” ...
Monday, March 20, 2006
Charleston City leaders say urban deer hunting was quite successful last year, and some are talking already about ...
Friday, February 17, 2006
On Monday, February 20, the West Virginia Senate Natural Resources Committee is scheduled to consider an important resolution, ...
Thursday, November 10, 2005
The U.S. Forest Service is reviewing the management plan for the Monongahela National Forest. This management plan will ...
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Current and retired Ohio County, W. Va., law officers sought certification to carry their weapons while not in ...
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
West Virginians spoke loudly and forcefully a couple of years ago when they voted to eliminate Sunday hunting ...