West Virginia Gun Laws
Carry Information
Legal & Resources
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Does West Virginia have an Assault Weapons Ban? | 🚫 No. WV does not ban assault weapons or high-capacity magazines under state law. |
| Are background checks required for private gun sales? | 🚫 Not required. Private transfers don’t need checks. |
| Are background checks required through FFL dealers? | ✅ Required per federal law (NICS). WV is not a point-of-contact state. |
| Is West Virginia a Stand Your Ground state? | ✅ Yes. WV law allows no duty to retreat when lawfully present. |
| What kind of restrictions does West Virginia have? |
|
| Does West Virginia have any gun storage laws? | ⚠️ Secure storage required for preventing access by minors; child-access prevention laws in effect. |
| Can you buy firearms in bulk in West Virginia? | ✅ Yes. No state limits on quantity purchased. |
| Does West Virginia have a red flag law? | 🚫 No. WV prohibits any ERPO or red-flag laws. |
| Age to purchase firearms? |
|
| Do I have to register my guns in West Virginia? | 🚫 No registration required for any firearm. |
| Do I need a permit to purchase a handgun? | 🚫 No permit required for purchasing firearms. |
| Does West Virginia have a waiting period for firearms? | 🚫 No waiting period for any firearm purchase. |
🚫 No. WV does not ban assault weapons or high-capacity magazines under state law.
🚫 Not required. Private transfers don’t need checks.
✅ Required per federal law (NICS). WV is not a point-of-contact state.
✅ Yes. WV law allows no duty to retreat when lawfully present.
- ℹ️ Permitless carry Legal for anyone 18+ (constitutional carry). No license required.
- ℹ️ Licensing (CHL) still available and beneficial for reciprocity and avoiding background check delays.
- ℹ️ No waiting periods or background checks at point-of-sale (private transfers unaffected).
⚠️ Secure storage required for preventing access by minors; child-access prevention laws in effect.
✅ Yes. No state limits on quantity purchased.
🚫 No. WV prohibits any ERPO or red-flag laws.
- ℹ️ 18+ for long guns,
- ℹ️ 21+ for handguns from dealers.
🚫 No registration required for any firearm.
🚫 No permit required for purchasing firearms.
🚫 No waiting period for any firearm purchase.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Does West Virginia allow Open Carry? | ✅ Legal without a permit for anyone 18+ (constitutional carry). No license required. |
| Does West Virginia allow Concealed Carry? | ✅ Permitless conceal for 21+ without exception. 18–20 require provisional CHL. |
| Non‑Lethal Weapons? | ✅ Pepper spray, stun guns, and tasers are legal without a permit. |
| Places allowed to carry? | ✅ Public areas, private property with permission, vehicles—CHL not required. |
| Places not allowed to carry? | 🚫 Restricted in schools, courthouses, correctional facilities, public buses. |
| States honored? | ✅ West Virginia honors all valid U.S. concealed carry permits (optional CHL only needed for travel to recognizing states). |
| States reciprocate? | ✅West Virginia CHL is honored in these states:
⚠️ Some states have residency or permit-type conditions. Always verify before travel. |
| Permit duration & renewal? | ℹ️ 5 Years. |
| Can you conceal anything other than a handgun? | 🚫 No. Carry privileges apply only to handguns. |
| Permit Licensure? | ℹ️ Optional CHL for reciprocity and restricted areas.
|
✅ Legal without a permit for anyone 18+ (constitutional carry). No license required.
✅ Permitless conceal for 21+ without exception. 18–20 require provisional CHL.
✅ Pepper spray, stun guns, and tasers are legal without a permit.
✅ Public areas, private property with permission, vehicles—CHL not required.
🚫 Restricted in schools, courthouses, correctional facilities, public buses.
✅ West Virginia honors all valid U.S. concealed carry permits (optional CHL only needed for travel to recognizing states).
✅West Virginia CHL is honored in these states:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Wyoming
⚠️ Some states have residency or permit-type conditions. Always verify before travel.
ℹ️ 5 Years.
🚫 No. Carry privileges apply only to handguns.
ℹ️ Optional CHL for reciprocity and restricted areas.
- Issued by county sheriff’s office.
| Resources | Links |
|---|---|
| Official Licensing & State Info | |
| Hunter Education |
West Virginia Leadership
- Born: December 21, 1967 (Brooklyn, NY)
- Term Started: January 13, 2025
- Previous Role: Attorney General of West Virginia (2013–2025)
- Born: November 26, 1953 (Glen Dale, WV)
- Senate Service: Since January 3, 2015
- Committees:
- Environment and Public Works (Chair)
- Appropriations
- Rules and Administration
- Born: April 27, 1951 (Charleston, WV)
- Senate Service: Since January 14, 2025
- Previous Role: Governor of West Virginia (2017–2025)