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WEST VIRGINIA RECORD

Friday, March 29, 2024

AG's office announces concealed handgun reciprocity agreements

McGraw

Charleston - Attorney General Darrell McGraw recently announced concealed weapon reciprocity agreements with other states.

"West Virginians with valid concealed handgun permits are allowed to carry concealed handguns in Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, Ohio, Florida and South Dakota pursuant to existing and new reciprocity agreements. We are currently in active discussion with other states. We have received recognition by Michigan, Montana, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Vermont, but we do not have a reciprocity agreement with the states," Attorney General Darrell McGraw said in a June 8 press release.

In conjunction with the announcement, state consumers were able receive a free gun lock from at several State Police detachments and at numerous gun shops across the state on June 8.

"We have added a new section to our Web site detailing handgun reciprocity agreements with other states," McGraw said in the release. "This information can be a reference guide to the West Virginia concealed handgun reciprocity agreements with other states for consumers, business owners and visitors."

During the 2007 legislative session, House Bill 3074 was passed and signed by Gov. Joe Manchin. This law transfers the authority from the governor to the attorney general to negotiate concealed weapon reciprocity with other states.

To enter into concealed weapon reciprocity agreements with other states, certain criteria must be met to ensure their licensing requirements for their applicants are as stringent as West Virginia's. Additionally the other state must have a database that is readily available 24/7 that can verify the continuing validity of a concealed weapons permit.

For example, law enforcement officers need to be able to prove a person's concealed handgun permit is not void due to a recent felony or other legal disability. The states having concealed handgun reciprocity agreements with West Virginia must notify the state if and when their state concealed handgun laws change.

McGraws's staff has been researching and negotiating diligently with states over the last couple of months preparing for the reciprocity law to go into effect.

"There are five different categories of states concerning reciprocity agreements," McGraw said in the release. "We have focused on the contiguous states first. There are states who match us and there are five or six states interested in reciprocity with us, but questions exist as to whether West Virginia's requirements meet theirs. There are about 15 states that appear to recognize any valid concealed weapons permit.

"Then there are states that don't meet our criteria. The last category of states are very strict about concealed weapons and do not have reciprocity laws with other states. These would include New York, California and Illinois."

McGraw said that if West Virginia wants to maximize concealed weapon reciprocity with other states, the scope of a background check needs to be clarified and updated.

"We hope to have recommendations for the legislature to consider at its next regular session," he said in the release. "The database needs to cover the entire state and include all information about possible disabling behaviors. In the states where there is some type of statutory problem that prevents West Virginia from granting reciprocity, we are actively seeking West Virginia's recognition of concealed weapons in their state."

For more information, log on to www.wvago.gov/gunrecep.cfm or call the Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-368-8808.

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