West Virginia Now Has Constitutional Carry

west virginia legalizes concealed carry without a permit

Effective Tuesday May 24th, 2016 West Virginia's constitutional carry law has gone into effect. The law had been previously vetoed by Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin back in March. The lawmakers were able to override the veto and the law has now gone into effect. 

In order to carry a concealed handgun in West Virginia one need be 21 years of age or older and be in legal possession of the firearm.

A warning to locals of the area that despite the legalization of carrying concealed without a permit, being within 1000 feet of a school with a handgun and without a permit is still illegal so exercise caution.

For more information about Constitutional Carry and other states that have similar laws click here: Constitutional Carry States

About Jacob Paulsen

Jacob S. Paulsen is the President of ConcealedCarry.com. ConcealedCarry.com provides in-person and online firearm training for American gun owners. The Company is currently teaching in-person classes in 25+ states with a team of more than 55 instructors. Jacob is a NRA certified instructor & Range Safety Officer, USCCA certified instructor and training counselor, Utah BCI instructor, Affiliate instructor for Next Level Training, Graduate and certified instructor for The Law of Self Defense, and a Glock and Sig Sauer Certified Armorer. He resides in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado with his wife and children.

4 Comments

  1. Sean on June 2, 2016 at 2:14 pm

    Huntington will be the hardest place to carry as Marshall has control of most of the city. If my wife could transfer with her job we would move back tomorrow. Since our house just sold in SC, Myrtle Beach with unholy sales tax & wages at poverty level for 98% of the county. Cost of living is ridiculously high compared to wages. Criminal activity is equal to a major city of 200,000 people with a homeless or squatter rate close to 15,000 estimated.

  2. Bruce A. Frank on June 2, 2016 at 2:22 pm

    So even with Constitutional carry, one is required to have a permit? The article was unclear. Is a permit required when close to a school, but when not near a school a permit is not required?

    • Jacob Paulsen on June 2, 2016 at 2:26 pm

      Bruce, sorry for the lack of clarity. With Constitutional Carry you do not need a permit to carry concealed in West Virginia HOWEVER, without a permit and even with Constitutional Carry, one cannot have a firearm within 1000 feet of a school. This is due to a Federal law that prohibits guns within 1000 feet of a school “unless otherwise licensed by the state.”

  3. Bruce on October 21, 2022 at 5:36 pm

    Can a non-resident of West Virginia that has a CCW from their home state carry in WV with a permit ? I am just not clear on Constitutional Carry among the states. I understand the rules about being near schools, court houses, placed with signs posted.

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