Proposed West Virginia Firearm Legislation
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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: Supporting and encouraging the enactment of the federal Hearing Protection Act of 2017
Description: Supporting and encouraging the enactment of the federal Hearing Protection Act of 2017
Last Action: Completed legislative action
Last Action Date: April 3, 2017
Title: Relating to enhanced penalties for use of a firearm during commission of a felony
Description: The purpose of this bill is to provide for enhanced penalties for use of a firearm during commission of a felony and, it also provides exceptions to such enhanced penalties. This section has been completely rewritten; therefore, it has been completely underscored.
Last Action: To House Judiciary
Last Action Date: February 8, 2017
Title: Creating an additional penalty for use of a firearm in furtherance of a drug offense
Description: The purpose of this bill is to create an additional penalty for use of a firearm in furtherance of a drug offense. The bill additionally includes a heightened penalty if the firearm is discharged.
Last Action: To House Judiciary
Last Action Date: February 8, 2017
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: The purpose of this bill is to allow those in active military service, and their spouses, while stationed at a West Virginia military installation to be considered as residents of this state for the purpose of obtaining concealed carry permits.
Last Action: To House Judiciary
Last Action Date: March 2, 2017
Title: Right to keep and bear arms
Description: Right to keep and bear arms
Last Action: To House Judiciary
Last Action Date: February 8, 2017
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 Judiciary
Last Action Date: March 15, 2017
Title: West Virginia Firearms Freedom Act
Description: West Virginia Firearms Freedom Act
Last Action: To House Judiciary
Last Action Date: February 8, 2017
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: February 9, 2017
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, 2017 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: February 13, 2017
Title: Requiring that voter registration information appear on certain state issued identification cards
Description: 10.0pt;color:windowtext'>The purpose of this bill is to require that voter registration information appear on certain state issued identification cards by January 1, 2019.
Last Action: To House Judiciary
Last Action Date: February 14, 2017
Title: Permitting certain holders of concealed weapons permits to carry weapons of the grounds and buildings on the State Capitol Complex
Description: The purpose of this bill is to permit holders of licenses to carry a concealed deadly weapon on the grounds of the state Capitol Complex and its buildings. The bill sets forth the requirements to apply and qualify for an endorsement to be added to a concealed carry permit, and specifies reasons for which an endorsement may be denied, suspended or revoked. The bill also prohibits those licensees from carrying any concealed deadly weapon within the Supreme Court’s offices and rooms.
Last Action: To House Judiciary
Last Action Date: February 14, 2017
Title: Making unlawful any employer policy or rule prohibiting an employee from possessing a firearm inside a vehicle
Description: The purpose of this bill is to make unlawful any employer policy or rule prohibiting an employee from possessing a firearm inside a vehicle; provide criminal and civil penalties; provide injunctive relief; and create exceptions.
Last Action: To House Judiciary
Last Action Date: February 20, 2017
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 Division of Natural Resources.
Last Action: To House Agriculture and Natural Resources
Last Action Date: February 21, 2017
Title: Allowing state, county or municipal employees with a license to carry a concealed weapon to possess a firearm at any time in this state
Description: The purpose of this bill is to allow state, county or municipal employees with a license to carry a concealed weapon to possess a firearm at any time in this state.
Last Action: To House Judiciary
Last Action Date: February 21, 2017
Title: Relating to the possession of firearms in parks and park facilities
Description: The purpose of this bill is to prohibit county park commissions from prohibiting firearms in their facilities and to clarify that a firearm may be carried by a person for self defense in state parks, state forests and state recreational areas managed by the Department of Natural Resources, provided that such person is not otherwise prohibited from possessing firearms.
Last Action: Chapter 163, Acts, Regular Session, 2017
Last Action Date: May 23, 2017
Title: Permitting persons who have been issued state licenses to carry concealed deadly weapons to carry those weapons on the grounds of the State Capitol Complex
Description: The purpose of this bill is to permit persons who have been issued state licenses to carry concealed deadly weapons to carry those weapons on the grounds of the State Capitol Complex, except for the third and fourth floors of the east wing of Building One.
Last Action: To House Judiciary
Last Action Date: February 27, 2017
Title: Permitting a firearm or other deadly weapon on or in a private primary or secondary education building, structure or facility
Description: The purpose of this bill is to permit persons who have been issued state licenses to carry concealed deadly weapons pursuant to Code, 61-7-4 to possesses a firearm or other deadly weapon on or in a private primary or secondary education building, structure or facility.
Last Action: To House Education
Last Action Date: February 27, 2017
Title: Reducing the cost of the fee for a state license to carry a concealed weapon
Description: The purpose of this bill is to reduce the cost of the fee for a state license to carry a concealed weapon.
Last Action: To House Finance
Last Action Date: March 10, 2017
Title: Prohibiting county parks and recreation commissions from promulgating or enforcing rules prohibiting possession of firearms
Description: The purpose of this bill is to bar a county commission from promulgating or enforcing rules or regulations prohibiting the possession of firearms within county parks, recreational properties or facilities. It also updates language replacing the defunct justice of the peace system with reference to magistrate courts.
Last Action: To Government Organization
Last Action Date: February 9, 2017
Title: Relating to carrying firearm for self-defense in certain state recreation areas
Description: The purpose of this bill is to allow a person to carry a firearm for self-defense in woods and in state parks, state forests, wildlife management areas and on state rail trails in general, but with limitations for rifles and shotguns in certain areas.
Last Action: To Natural Resources
Last Action Date: February 9, 2017
Title: Relating to certain WV officials carrying concealed firearm nationwide
Description: The purpose of this bill is to require all law-enforcement agencies in this state to certify qualified law-enforcement officers to carry concealed firearms nationwide as provided by the federal Law-Enforcement Officers Safety Act, to provide statutory authority necessary to give prosecuting attorneys and assistant prosecuting attorneys the option to carry firearms for self-defense pursuant to that federal act upon completion of required training and annual background check and to require law-enforcement agencies to provide qualified retired law-enforcement officers the opportunity to be certified to carry concealed firearms nationwide, under that act.
Last Action: Chapter 200, Acts, Regular Session, 2017
Last Action Date: May 23, 2017
Title: Authorizing county process servers and court security personnel to carry weapons while on duty
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 Judiciary
Last Action Date: February 9, 2017
Title: Relating to dangerous weapons
Description: The purpose of this bill is to identify additional persons who may possess firearms on school property.
Last Action: Chapter 82, Acts, Regular Session, 2017
Last Action Date: May 23, 2017
Title: Relating to concealed weapons permits
Description: The purpose of this bill is to make technical changes to statutes relating to concealed weapons permits. The bill clarifies the right of certain persons to carry a concealed weapon while hunting or fishing. It provides that a license to carry a deadly weapon may be revoked for certain violations either under the provisional license statute or the original statute authorizing a license to carry a concealed weapon. And, the bill makes technical changes to the statute relating to reciprocity and recognition of out of state gun permits.
Last Action: To Judiciary
Last Action Date: February 23, 2017
Title: Permitting investigators from Attorney General's office carry firearms
Description: The purpose of this bill is to allow investigators from the Attorney General’s office to carry firearms in the course of their official duties under certain circumstances.
Last Action: To House Judiciary
Last Action Date: March 7, 2017
Title: Permitting ABCC appointees or employees carry firearms after completing training
Description: Permitting ABCC appointees or employees carry firearms after completing training
Last Action: To Judiciary
Last Action Date: March 6, 2017
Title: Relating to dangerous weapons
Description: The purpose of this bill is to exempt honorably discharged veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States from payment of fees and costs required by this section for a license to carry deadly weapons. This exemption already applies to former law-enforcement officers who are honorably retired.
Last Action: To Judiciary
Last Action Date: March 13, 2017
Title: Correcting code regarding handgun safety
Description: The purpose of this bill is to correct an internal code reference that needs updated as a result of a bill that passed in the 2016 regular session.
Last Action: To Judiciary
Last Action Date: March 18, 2017