Possible changes to Virginia CCW reciprocity.

This is why we need a national reciprocity law.

To the O.P. -- thanks for posting this.

I wonder if this is of sufficient worthiness for general interest, and all gun-owners, that it shouldn't belong on the General Discussions forum?

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This is why we need a national reciprocity law.

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No this is why we need to be vigilant about whom we put in office.

This is why folks need to get off their keesters and vote on election day.

This is why we need a national reciprocity law.

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Absolutely not! Then they would make it so NO states reciprocate with each other; kinda funny he kept TX and UT, two states where it is relatively easy to get a permit.

National reciprocity is a double edged sword. The only way to implement it would be to have national criteria for it and probably national registration.

Right now some states simply require you to fill out a form and pass a background check to get a carry permit. Others require much more training including range time. Not allowing reciprocity with states that have less stringent requirements is pretty common right now. The downside of this to VA residents is that their permits will no longer be valid in most any other state.

Shovelhead said:

This is why folks need to get off their keesters and vote on election day.

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Exactly. People all too often think that if their legislature is controlled by conservatives they are 'safe' but this shows exactly what can happen when anti-gun politicians get into office where they can do damage. A good friend of mine always says 'a state is only one bad election away from becoming the next New York or New Jersey'.

Exact same thing happened in PA when this idiot Kane got elected to the office of AG.

And Virginia folks, this will hurt you too as several states that had reciprocity with you will no longer honor your permit because the agreement has to be two way.

Sadly I think Virginia is going to be the next state to drop into the anti-gun category, and right behind that could very well be Pennsylvania.

It's not even like it's hard to get a permit in VA either...

I moved in as a military guy, took a utility bill, my orders, and 50 bucks down to the courthouse and had a VA resident permit back in about 30 days. No fingerprints, no photo... nothin.

So I don't see what the argument for restricting other state's permits would be other than "Because we can"

I wonder if the Governor told him to do it. Surprised they aren't accepting Kentucky's permit.
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I was surprised they kept Utah's too. Funny that they found the Utah license requirements sufficient, but Nevada next door does not.

My CCW instructor is a licensed instructor in AZ too, and offered to send in the paperwork for an AZ license too, so I could carry in NV, for just the cost of the AZ processing fee, but I didn't do it.

Even Kathleen Kane wasn't this drastic. She mostly stuck to removing recognition of non-resident, out-of-state permits. If this guy was smart, he would be doing that instead of completely removing reciprocity. What he wants to do is going to cost him dearly.

Here is the official announcement:

http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.ph...pdate-of-concealed-handgun-permit-recognition

“Unfortunately, I have little doubt as to his true motivations,” Virginia House Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford) said. “Mark Herring consistently seeks to interpret and apply the law of the commonwealth through the lens of his own personal, political opinions. He is damaging the integrity of the office he holds.”

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This says it all. Herring is Governor Terry McAuliffe's puppet. The Gov is truly Americas most anti gun zealot dwelling in a State House.

.....and wants to be Hildebeast's running mate.

Herring's rationale was that these other states did not have as stringent requirements as Virginia. This could not have had anything to do with training, because Virginia's training requirement can be satisfied with a brief online course, and no range time. I think the difference was that some of these other states did not disqualify people for domestic protection orders, DWI, or misdemeanor assault and battery. We really need to see more detail. I can't understand it the way it's been presented.

804-786-2071. This is Mark Herrings office number, feel free to call and let him know if you don't agree with his decision.

http://www.oag.state.va.us/index.ph...pdate-of-concealed-handgun-permit-recognition

ATTORNEY GENERAL HERRING AND VIRGINIA STATE POLICE COMPLETE AUDIT AND UPDATE OF CONCEALED HANDGUN PERMIT RECOGNITION

~ Effective February 1, 2016, Virginia will no longer recognize concealed handgun permits from 25 states whose qualifications do not meet Virginia's safety standards ~

RICHMOND (December 22, 2015)-Attorney General Mark R. Herring and the Virginia State Police have completed an audit and update of the 30 states whose concealed handgun permits have been considered valid within the Commonwealth. This audit and update was conducted pursuant to Virginia State Code § 18.2-308.014, which requires, in part, that "The Superintendent of State Police shall, in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General determine whether states meet the requirements and qualifications" for recognition of their concealed handgun permits.



In order to qualify for recognition of a permit, also known as "reciprocity," the out-of-state issuing authority must provide "the means for instantaneous verification of the validity of all such permits or licenses issued within that state, accessible 24 hours a day," and "the requirements and qualifications of that state's law" must be "adequate to prevent possession of a permit or license by persons who would be denied a permit in the Commonwealth under this article."



After months of research and evaluation, including extensive outreach to the states whose permits Virginia currently recognizes, Virginia is revoking concealed handgun permit recognition with 25 states effective February 1, 2016 because their laws are not sufficient to prevent someone who is disqualified under Virginia law from receiving a concealed handgun permit. These states therefore do not meet Virginia's standards for issuance of a concealed handgun permit or for recognition of such permits.



This update does not affect which Virginia residents or nonresidents are qualified to receive a Virginia concealed handgun permit, nor does it affect the validity of any permits that have been issued by Virginia.



Virginia's concealed handgun permit law includes a number of disqualifiers and safeguards designed to prevent potentially dangerous or irresponsible individuals from being able to lawfully conceal handguns, such as:

An individual who has been ordered by a court to receive outpatient mental health treatment, who has received inpatient mental health or substance abuse treatment, or who has been adjudicated legally incompetent, mentally incapacitated, or not guilty by reason of insanity.
An individual who is subject to a restraining order, or to a protective order
An individual who has been convicted of stalking or has pending stalking charges
An individual who has been convicted of any assault, assault and battery, sexual battery, discharging of a firearm or brandishing of a firearm within the three-year period immediately preceding the application, or has pending charges for any of the above
An individual who has been convicted of a felony or has felony charges pending
An individual who has been convicted of two or more misdemeanors within the five-year period immediately preceding the application
An individual who is addicted to, or is an unlawful user or distributor of, marijuana, synthetic cannabinoids, or any controlled substance.
An individual who has been convicted of driving under the influence within the three years prior to the application
An individual who the court finds, by a preponderance of the evidence, based on specific acts by the applicant, is likely to use a weapon unlawfully or negligently to endanger others
An individual whose juvenile adjudications would have constituted a felony conviction if committed by an adult
An alien other than an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence
An individual who is a fugitive from justice
An individual who has been discharged from the armed forces of the United States under dishonorable conditions
Because the following 25 states lacked adequate disqualifiers to deny a permit to someone who would be barred from obtaining a permit in Virginia, the Virginia State Police, on the advice of the Attorney General, has begun notifying the following states that their concealed handgun permits will no longer be recognized by the Commonwealth:



Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

Delaware #

Florida *

Idaho

Indiana

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana *

Minnesota #

Mississippi

Montana

Nebraska

New Mexico

North Dakota *

North Carolina

Ohio

Pennsylvania *

South Carolina *

South Dakota

Tennessee

Washington #

Wisconsin #

Wyoming *



* indicates states that will no longer recognize Virginia concealed handgun permits because of laws in those states that require mutual recognition of permits

# indicates states that do not currently recognize a Virginia concealed handgun permit



Concealed handgun permits from Michigan, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia will continue to be recognized, as their process for issuing concealed handgun permits is adequate to prevent someone who would be denied a permit in Virginia from obtaining one.



Speaking about this audit and update, Attorney General Herring said:

"Virginia, and nearly every other state in the country, have recognized that carrying a concealed handgun is a significant responsibility that should be extended only to those who have gone through a process to prove a level of competency and responsibility.

"The standards for proving competency and responsibility are up to each state, and the General Assembly has established Virginia's standards for whom it considers capable of safely carrying a concealed handgun. Those standards should be applied evenly, consistently, and fairly to anyone who wants to lawfully conceal a handgun in Virginia.



"Under state law, the Virginia State Police can agree to recognize permits issued in another state if that state's laws, disqualifiers, and safeguards are adequate to prevent possession of a permit by persons who would be denied a permit in the Commonwealth. For much of the last year, my team and I have worked with the Virginia State Police to conduct an audit and update of the states whose permits are recognized in Virginia. This has been a deliberate, thorough, professional review of the states which supposedly meet or exceed Virginia's standards.



"To ensure Virginia's law and safety standards for concealed handgun permits are applied evenly, consistently, and fairly, I have recommended the State Police terminate the reciprocity agreements with 25 states whose laws are not adequate to prevent issuance of a concealed handgun permit to individuals that Virginia would disqualify. The State Police has accepted that recommendation and has begun sending letters to the 25 states informing them that as of February 1, their permits will no longer be recognized by Virginia.



"To me, this is a commonsense step that can help make Virginians and our law enforcement officers safer by ensuring that our concealed carry laws and safety standards apply to everyone in Virginia, whether they are a resident or a visitor. Strong, consistent enforcement of Virginia's laws and safety standards can prevent disqualified people who may be dangerous or irresponsible from utilizing a concealed handgun permit, and it's what the law requires."



"Our General Assembly has already identified who can and cannot conceal their handguns in Virginia. Those standards should apply to everyone in Virginia equally, at all times. They should not be undermined by wrongly recognizing permits from other states with more permissive standards."



Virginia Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Brian Moran added:

"The Virginia legislature has carefully crafted our concealed weapon law to ensure public safety. I am pleased the Attorney General has reviewed this statute as the legislature dictates."

All concealed handgun permit holders are encouraged to review the applicable laws of Virginia and states they may visit to determine whether and how they can legally carry a concealed handgun.

Comment form to the AG office. I made my displeasure known this morning.
http://ag.virginia.gov/ContactUsForm/ContactForm.aspx

I'm surprised that VA will no longer recognize OH permits as OH requirements for a resident permit are just as stringent and probably more stringent that that of VA.

No matter though; I have a VA permit.

Is this AG elected or appointed? Either way, elections do have consequences.

He's elected. He won by 165 votes out of two million. He's not exactly popular here anyway.

Thanks

My son suspects its the Democrat governor.

My Tennessee handgun carry permit required more than the Virginia concealed carry permit obtained by one of my Virginia resident co-workers, so I call Democrat party gun politics on this one.

The OP says "possible changes" -- I hope that is true and this does not come to pass.

NC's licensure requirements are stricter than Virginia's. This is a crock.