35 total bills, 0 anti-gun bills,
19 pro-gun bills for this session
Proposed West Virginia Firearm Legislation
35 total bills, 0 anti-gun bills,
19 pro-gun bills for this session
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Filter: Click on bill number for details. jump to upper chamber
note: Reintroduction of legislation applies only to House bills and may occur from odd-numbered to even-numbered years. Legislation does not carryover automatically; the sponsor or cosponsors of a bill or resolution must submit a request for the legislation to carryover. The request must be made to the Clerk of the House no later than ten days before the commencement of the Second Regular Session.
Title: West Virginia Firearms Freedom Act
Description: West Virginia Firearms Freedom Act
Last Action: To House Judiciary
Last Action Date: January 13, 2016
Title: Permitting certain holders of concealed weapons permits to carry weapons of the grounds and buildings on the State Capitol Complex
Description: Permitting certain holders of concealed weapons permits to carry weapons of the grounds and buildings on the State Capitol Complex
Last Action: To House Judiciary
Last Action Date: January 13, 2016
Title: Clarifying circumstances under which a person may possess certain firearms while afield hunting
Description: The purpose of this bill is to clarify circumstances under which a person may possess certain firearms while afield hunting or engaging in other outdoor recreational activities. Strike‑throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.
Last Action: To House Judiciary
Last Action Date: January 13, 2016
Title: Permitting the possession of firearms on the grounds of higher education institutions by all persons with valid licenses
Description: The purpose of this bill is to permit the possession of firearms on the grounds of higher education institutions by all persons with valid licenses to carry a concealed deadly weapon. This section is new; therefore, it has been completely underscored.
Last Action: To House Education
Last Action Date: January 13, 2016
Title: Clarifying when a chief law-enforcement officer is required to certify the transfer or making of certain firearms
Description: Clarifying when a chief law-enforcement officer is required to certify the transfer or making of certain firearms
Last Action: To House Judiciary
Last Action Date: January 13, 2016
Title: Authorizing appointees or employees of the Alcohol Beverage Control Commissioner to carry concealed handguns
Description: Authorizing appointees or employees of the Alcohol Beverage Control Commissioner to carry concealed handguns
Last Action: To House Judiciary
Last Action Date: January 13, 2016
Title: Recognizing those in active military service as residents for the purpose of obtaining concealed carry permits while stationed at a West Virginia military installation
Description: Recognizing those in active military service as residents for the purpose of obtaining concealed carry permits while stationed at a West Virginia military installation
Last Action: To House Judiciary
Last Action Date: February 4, 2016
Title: Making all future federal and local statutes, ordinances, laws, orders and rules concerning firearms, firearm accessories, ammunition and their accouterments invalid and unenforceable
Description: Making all future federal and local statutes, ordinances, laws, orders and rules concerning firearms, firearm accessories, ammunition and their accouterments invalid and unenforceable
Last Action: To House Judiciary
Last Action Date: January 13, 2016
Title: Relating to carry or use of a handgun or deadly weapon
Description: The purpose of this bill is to authorize residents of the State of West Virginia to carry a firearm in a concealed manner, without permit, so long as certain conditions are met. The bill permits eligible persons to carry a handgun for self-defense purposes, without permit, while afield. It establishes that criminal penalties for carrying a concealed deadly weapon without state license or other lawful authorization apply only to persons under twenty-one years of age. The bill requires an applicant for a concealed weapon permit to be a United States citizen or legal resident thereof and a resident of this state and of the county in which application is made. The bill permits persons eighteen years and older to obtain a concealed carry permit. It requires actual live firing of ammunition in training and requires an applicant for a concealed carry permit to provide a copy of the instructor’s certification. The bill requires that on or after January 1, 2017, all duplicate license cards issued by county sheriffs to be uniform across all fifty-five counties and feature a photograph of the licensee. It requires State Police, in cooperation with the Sheriffs’ Bureau of Professional Standards, to prepare uniform applications for licenses and license cards. The bill creates a provisional license to carry concealed deadly weapons for persons between eighteen and twenty-one years of age and establishes provisional license application requirements and procedures. The bill exempts members of the United States Armed Forces, Reserve or National Guard from permit requirements and eliminates the requirement for persons twenty-one years of age and older to possess a permit to carry a concealed deadly weapon provided that certain conditions are met, including being a United States citizen or legal resident, being twenty-one years of age or older and not prohibited from possessing firearms. The bill requires a school principal to report certain violations to the State Police, provides enhanced penalties for use of a firearm during commission of a felony. And, provides for an exception to enhanced penalties in certain circumstances when a firearm is used in defense of self or others.
Last Action: Chapter 252, Acts, Regular Session, 2016
Last Action Date: May 13, 2016
Title: Firearm Protection Act
Description: The purpose of this bill is to create the “Firearm Protection Act” that provides that any federal law effective after January 1, 2016 which attempts to ban semiautomatic firearm or to limit the size of a magazine of a firearm or other limitation on firearms in this state is unenforceable in West Virginia. The bill also provides an effective date.
Last Action: To House Judiciary
Last Action Date: January 20, 2016
Title: Exempting activity at indoor shooting ranges from the prohibition of shooting or discharging a firearm within five hundred feet of any church or dwelling house
Description: The purpose of this bill is to exempt activity at indoor shooting ranges from the prohibition of shooting or discharging a firearm within five hundred feet of any church or dwelling house; amending the definition of "shooting range" to include an indoor range; to exempt activity at indoor shooting ranges from criminal penalties for shooting or discharging a firearm within five hundred feet of any church or dwelling house; and limiting nuisance actions against shooting ranges.
Last Action: Chapter 250, Acts, Regular Session, 2016
Last Action Date: May 13, 2016
Title: Establishing oversight and a database for seizures and forfeitures by law enforcement agencies
Description: The purpose of this bill is to provide legislators with the information necessary for basic oversight of members of the executive branch law-enforcement agencies who seize and forfeit private property under state and federal forfeiture laws. It requires the Superintendent of the West Virginia State Police to maintain databases concerning that information.
Last Action: To House Judiciary
Last Action Date: January 21, 2016
Title: Authorizing appointees or employees of the Alcohol Beverage Control Commissioner to carry concealed handguns
Description: The purpose of this bill is to authorize appointees or employees of the Alcohol Beverage Control Commissioner to carry concealed handguns.
Last Action: To House Judiciary
Last Action Date: January 22, 2016
Title: Providing private educational facilities authority to determine whether, and under what circumstances, to permit deadly weapons on school premises through written policies
Description: The purpose of this bill is to provide private educational providers authority to determine, through written policies, whether to allow deadly weapons on premises.
Last Action: To House Education
Last Action Date: January 25, 2016
Title: Clarifying that a firearm may be carried for self defense in state parks, state forests and state recreational areas
Description: The purpose of this bill is to clarify that a firearm may be carried for self defense in state parks, state forests and state recreational areas managed by the Department of Natural Resources.
Last Action: Vetoed by Governor 4/1/16
Last Action Date: April 1, 2016
Title: Right to keep and bear arms
Description: Right to keep and bear arms
Last Action: To House Judiciary
Last Action Date: January 29, 2016
Title: Providing that any law-abiding person eighteen years of age or older may carry a concealed weapon within the boundaries of the state
Description: The purpose of this bill is to provide that any law-abiding person eighteen years of age or older may carry a concealed weapon within the boundaries of the state, including on or within municipally owned or controlled buildings, recreation centers or properties, without first obtaining a license to carry concealed deadly weapons.
Last Action: To House Judiciary
Last Action Date: February 3, 2016
Title: Relating to enhanced penalties for use of a firearm during commission of a felony
Description: Relating to enhanced penalties for use of a firearm during commission of a felony
Last Action: Tabled on 3rd reading, House Calendar
Last Action Date: February 8, 2016
Title: Allowing certain officers to bring firearms into the legislative chambers if they have a concealed weapons permit
Description: The purpose of this bill is to authorize the clerk, head doorkeeper or sergeant of arms, who are elected officers of West Virginia Senate and House of Delegates, to bring a firearm into the State Capitol Complex and into the chambers of the Legislature, if the officers hold a valid concealed weapons permit.
Last Action: To House Veterans' Affairs and Homeland Security
Last Action Date: February 5, 2016
Title: Providing identification to qualified law-enforcement officers to allow them to carry firearms for self-defense under the federal Law-Enforcement Officers Safety Act, and clarifying that prosecuting attorneys and assistant prosecuting attorneys may carry firearms for self-defense
Description: The purpose of this bill is to require law-enforcement agencies to provide identification to qualified law-enforcement officers to allow them to carry firearms for self-defense under the federal Law-Enforcement Officers Safety Act; The bill provides that upon completion of required training and annual background checks, prosecuting attorneys and assistant prosecuting attorneys have the statutory authority necessary for the option to carry firearms for self-defense pursuant to the applicable federal act in order to have legal authority to carry firearms while crossing state lines (18 U.S.C. §926C includes persons who prosecute as “Qualified Law-Enforcement Officers”). The bill also requires law-enforcement agencies to provide qualified retired law-enforcement officers the opportunity to receive annual firearms qualification as required under the federal act.
Last Action: To House Judiciary
Last Action Date: February 8, 2016
Title: Relating to events involving firearms and ammunition on former National Guard sites
Description: The purpose of this bill is to require an institution of higher education to allow an event involving the sale of firearms and ammunition to take place on the institution’s campus if such events were held at the location when the site was previously owned by the National Guard Armory.Â
Last Action: To House Education
Last Action Date: February 8, 2016
Title: Permitting probation officers to carry deadly weapons on school buses and property
Description: The purpose of this bill is to permit probation officers to carry deadly weapons on school buses and property.
Last Action: To House Education
Last Action Date: February 8, 2016
Title: Establishing a mandatory course of instruction in firearm safety for high school students
Description: The purpose of this bill is to require and facilitate a firearm safety course for all secondary education students in public schools.
Last Action: To House Education
Last Action Date: February 11, 2016
Title: Prohibiting counties and municipalities from adopting ordinances or regulations that base restrictions on the breed of a dog
Description: The purpose of this bill is to prohibit municipalities and counties from enacting ordinances or regulations that base restrictions on the breed of a dog.
Last Action: To House Judiciary
Last Action Date: February 17, 2016
Title: Limiting the authority of municipalities to regulate the purchasing, possessing, transferring, owning, carrying, transporting, selling and storing of knives
Description: The purpose of this bill is to limit the authority of municipalities to regulate the purchasing, possessing, transferring, owning, carrying, transporting, selling and storing of knives.
Last Action: To House Political Subdivisions
Last Action Date: February 16, 2016
Title: Authorizing county process servers and court security personnel to carry dangerous and deadly weapons
Description: The purpose of this bill is to authorize county process servers and court security personnel to carry dangerous and deadly weapons when performing their duties if authorized by the county sheriff and after completing firearms safety training with annual requalification.
Last Action: To House Judiciary
Last Action Date: February 22, 2016
Title: Correcting code reference regarding carry concealed requirements
Description: Correcting code reference regarding carry concealed requirements
Last Action: To Judiciary
Last Action Date: January 13, 2016
Title: Permitting carrying of firearms in state parks, lands and trails managed by DNR
Description: Permitting carrying of firearms in state parks, lands and trails managed by DNR
Last Action: To Natural Resources
Last Action Date: January 13, 2016
Title: Allowing certain residents to carry concealed weapons in municipally controlled buildings and recreation centers without first obtaining a license
Description: Allowing certain residents to carry concealed weapons in municipally controlled buildings and recreation centers without first obtaining a license
Last Action: To Government Organization
Last Action Date: January 13, 2016
Title: Providing an exception to prohibition of possession of deadly weapon on primary or secondary education facility
Description: Providing an exception to prohibition of possession of deadly weapon on primary or secondary education facility
Last Action: To Judiciary
Last Action Date: January 13, 2016
Title: Not allowing county park commissions to prohibit firearms in facilities
Description: Not allowing county park commissions to prohibit firearms in facilities
Last Action: Vetoed by Governor 3/15/16 - House Journal
Last Action Date: March 15, 2016
Title: Allowing investigators from Attorney General's office to carry concealed weapons
Description: Allowing investigators from Attorney General's office to carry concealed weapons
Last Action: Vetoed by Governor 4/1/16 - House Journal
Last Action Date: March 15, 2016
Title: Amending requirements for carrying concealed weapon or deadly weapon for defense purposes
Description: Amending requirements for carrying concealed weapon or deadly weapon for defense purposes
Last Action: To Judiciary
Last Action Date: January 19, 2016
Title: Compiling and maintaining Central State Mental Health Registry
Description: Compiling and maintaining Central State Mental Health Registry
Last Action: Chapter 207, Acts, Regular Session, 2016
Last Action Date: May 13, 2016
Title: Creating additional penalty for use of firearm in furtherance of drug offense
Description: Creating additional penalty for use of firearm in furtherance of drug offense
Last Action: To Judiciary
Last Action Date: January 26, 2016
