WV Reciprocity

[Crimp]

This was received from the West Virginia Citizens Defense League. http://www.wvcdl.org
Maybe there's hope after all.

I am pleased to report that WVCDL has been in contact with the Attorney General’s office and that the Attorney General Darrell McGraw plans to adopt the most favorable interpretation of HB 3074, West Virginia’s new concealed carry reciprocity law. Although they are continuing to review the bill and are surveying other states’ licensing standards and other states’ ability to enter into reciprocity agreements with West Virginia, we believe West Virginia could establish reciprocity with as many as 22 states if their stated intentions concerning HB 3074 are implemented.

WVCDL has proposed and submitted to the Attorney General a list of states with which we think their laws and our new reciprocity law would permit the establishment of reciprocity. These states are:

Michigan (already recognizes WV)
Ohio
North Carolina
Florida
Tennessee (already recognizes WV)
Missouri (already recognizes WV)
Arkansas (pursuant to new AR reciprocity law that takes effect this summer)
Louisiana
Texas
Oklahoma (already recognizes WV)
Kansas (already recognizes WV)
New Mexico
Arizona (already recognizes WV)
Utah (already recognizes WV)
Wyoming
Alaska (already recognizes WV)

In addition to these states, we believe Kentucky and Virginia will be able to maintain their existing reciprocity with us. We also believe Montana (which already recognizes WV) may be able to qualify for reciprocity with us depending on exactly how broadly the Attorney General interprets the new law. North Dakota may also qualify depending on whether they fulfill HB 3074’s requirement that a reciprocal state be able to instantly verify a permit at all times. Two states, Nevada (which currently has no reciprocity law) and South Carolina (which has a very restrictive reciprocity law), are both close to passing legislation that would probably enable them to establish reciprocity with West Virginia.

WVCDL plans to work closely with the Attorney General’s office and Deputy Attorney General Tom Smith, who has been assigned to implementation of the new reciprocity law, to implement this law in the most favorable manner to law-abiding gun owners. Regardless of how the new reciprocity law is implemented, we intend to continue promoting a universal recognition law to enable permit holders from every state to be able to legally carry in West Virginia and to allow West Virginia to establish reciprocity with many states that will not be able to establish reciprocity with us even with the most favorable interpretation of HB 3074.

Until West Virginia establishes new reciprocity agreements, concealed carry permits from states other than Kentucky and Virginia will not be recognized in West Virginia and many states will not recognize West Virginia permits.

Jim Mullins, President
West Virginia Citizens Defense League
[email protected]

 

[Geister]

What about non-resident permits? Still no good?

 

[Crimp]

The new bill does not change non-resident requirements. SB-717 (which didn't make it out of the senate) would have opened up a non-resident program where you could apply in person through any county sheriff's office. Let's hope next year...

 

[American_Pit_Bull]

And to think that Jim Mullins bad mouthed that bill from the get-go lobbying for a veto for the first CCW reciprocity reform bill to be passed in a decade.

I would have liked to have seen him mail out an "Opps, I guess I was dead wrong..." action alert.

 

[Crimp]

Actually, TRAC, there were a few other reciprocity bills that would've been much better; that didn't have the "equal or greater standards" requirement and the "live fire" requirement for reciprocating states. Heck, we could've lost VA and KY! If AG McGraw does right by us, we'll do OK with this bill, but what about the next AG? Personally, I hope the legislators "refine" this one next session...

 

[Doug Add]

This would be good news for me, as I currently have to take a longer travel route to visit my family in Indiana--for no other reason but to avoid West Virginia. Any time frame on these agreements becoming reality?

 

[LAR-15]

Nice.

It can be improved upon in the future.

WV is still one place where Democrats support the RTKABA.

 

[Crimp]

<<<Any time frame on these agreements becoming reality?>>>

Doug - we're talking about multiple-state bureaucrats working together!

 

[Doug Add]

we're talking about multiple-state bureaucrats working together!

Understood! However, when the new reciprocity law was signed in NC the agreements came in rather quickly.

I hope this one does as well. We usually have a trip north planned in the summer, and my son and I like to shoot with my uncle, brother-in-law, and nephews.

 

[coat4gun]

Any thoughts on why PA is not on the list?