|
Subject/Law
|
Long guns
|
Handguns
|
Relevant Statutes
|
Notes
|
| State permit to purchase? | No | No | None | |
| Firearm registration? | No | No | None | |
| "Assault weapon" law? | No | No | None | |
| Owner license required? | No | No | None | |
| Carry permits issued? | No | Yes | §§ 61-7-3, 4, 5, 6 | Concealed carry of pistols and revolvers allowed with permit; no permit required for concealed carry of pistols and revolvers in home or place of work. |
| State preemption of local restrictions? | Yes | Yes | § 7-1-3 | Some local restrictions are grandfathered. |
| NFA weapons restricted? | No | No | None | |
| Peaceable journey laws? | No | No | None | Federal rules observed. |
In West Virginia permits aren't required to possess handguns. A permit test must be passed and a license acquired to carry a concealed handgun. West Virginia also allows open carry. State are preemptive, but there still remain grandfathered restrictions on open carry in some localities, such as Charleston and Dunbar. The SB 716 is a proposed senate bill which would amend the law to remove those restrictions.
West Virginia enacted the castle doctrine on April 10, 2008.