Carrying a firearm for self-defense comes with a lot of responsibility. Knowing the laws where you carry is just one important task you must undertake as an armed American. To help with that, we’ve provided a comprehensive overview of Massachusetts gun laws. Learn about the most important things to know when carrying in the Mountain State below.
Can You Carry a Gun in West Virginia?
West Virginia is a constitutional carry state. Open carry is legal in West Virginia without a permit for anyone at least 18 years of age who is not prohibited from carrying a firearm. Some areas are off-limits, including schools and courthouses. Concealed carry is legal for any legal resident of the U.S. who is at least 21 years old and who can legally possess a firearm without a license/permit.
West Virginia Concealed Carry Permit
Those desiring to concealed carry out-of-state will still need to get a Concealed Handgun License (CHL). West Virginia CHLs are available to residents and non-residents. A permit requires the applicant to complete a firearms training course in handling and firing a handgun. West Virginia recognizes all currently valid concealed carry permits issued by other U.S. jurisdictions.
There are currently 38 states that recognize West Virginia CHLs or allow permitless carry, although that is subject to change. Many states will not honor West Virginia provisional permits issued to 18- to 20-year-olds, and several states only honor CHLs issued to West Virginia residents.
Stand Your Ground
West Virginia is a Castle Doctrine state and has a “stand-your-ground law. A lawful occupant within a home or other place of residence is justified in using reasonable and proportionate force, including deadly force, against an intruder or attacker. The occupant must reasonably believe that the intruder or attacker intends to commit a felony in the home or residence and that deadly force is necessary.
There is no duty to retreat in any place a person has a legal right to be if the person reasonably believes that he or she or another is in imminent danger of death or serious bodily harm — that is, if he or she or another can only be saved by the use of deadly force against the intruder or attacker.
Gun Purchase and Handgun Registration Requirements
A permit is not required when buying a handgun, and there is no firearms registration in West Virginia. No background check is required when buying a handgun from a private individual. In addition, a CHL exempts the licensee from the background check requirement when purchasing a firearm from a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) or dealer. There is also no mandatory waiting period for handgun purchases. West Virginia has no magazine-capacity or ammunition restrictions.
Less-Lethal Legal Self-Defense Weapons
Stun guns, Tasers and pepper spray are allowed to be carried for self-defense since all are legal to purchase and possess without a permit. Metallic or brass knuckles are legal in West Virginia. They are considered deadly weapons and may be carried concealed by U.S. citizens or legal residents of the U.S. who are 21 years of age or older. Users must not be otherwise prohibited under state or federal law from possessing a firearm. No concealed carry license is necessary.
Where Can One Carry Concealed in West Virginia?
Understanding where you can and cannot carry a firearm is crucial for staying compliant with West Virginia’s gun laws. The state has specific locations where carrying a concealed handgun is allowed and places where it is strictly prohibited, even for permit holders. Familiarize yourself with these regulations to ensure you are always carrying legally and responsibly.
- Bars/restaurants
- Roadside rest areas
- State/national parks
- State/national forest
- Wildlife Management Areas
Locations where carry is prohibited include:
- Any public primary or secondary education building or grounds, school-sponsored function, or in or on a private primary or secondary education building, structure or facility (except possession of an unloaded firearm in a motor vehicle and leaving an unloaded firearm in a locked motor vehicle)
- Any school bus
- County courthouses or any facility housing a court in the state
- The State Capitol Complex (except a permittee may keep a firearm in his or her motor vehicle upon the State Capitol Complex if the vehicle is locked and the weapon is out of normal view)
- Regional jails, detention facilities and State Division of Corrections facilities
- Any building or area limited by municipal code (certain municipalities may have further handgun restrictions in municipal code)
- Any property where firearms are prohibited by the owner, lessee or other person charged with the care, custody and control of the real property
- Wherever signs are posted indicating weapon restrictions
- Any place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by federal or state law or regulation
Can You Carry a Gun in Your Car in West Virginia?
Anyone at least 21 years old and otherwise able to lawfully possess a firearm may concealed carry a handgun without a permit in a motor vehicle.
Can You Carry a Gun in a Bar in West Virginia?
There is no law restricting concealed carry in bars or restaurants in West Virginia, unless the establishment has signs posted indicating no firearms are allowed.
As a responsibly armed American, regardless of the laws in your state, it is unwise to carry while under the influence of any substance that could impair your judgment, slow your reaction times or impact your decision-making abilities. Any decision you make while carrying a firearm could have life-altering consequences.
Ready to Learn More About West Virginia Gun Laws?
It is your responsibility as a gun owner to know and understand the laws regarding your concealed carry rights. The USCCA’s Concealed Carry Reciprocity & Gun Laws Map has been designed to help inform and educate armed citizens like you. To learn more about Massachusetts’s concealed carry permit application process, concealed carry restrictions and training requirements, visit the West Virginia gun laws page now…
Find a concealed carry class in West Virginia today.
The information contained on this website is provided as a service to USCCA, Inc. members and the concealed carry community and does not constitute legal advice. Although we attempt to address all areas of concealed carry laws in all states, we make no claims, representations, warranties, promises or guarantees as to the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information disclosed. Legal advice must always be tailored to the individual facts and circumstances of each individual case. Laws are constantly changing, and, as such, nothing contained on this website should be used as a substitute for the advice of a lawyer.
