WV Concealed Carry Reciprocity Expands to Pennsylvania

[HiredGoon]

Although not on either state's official page yet, it IS now listed on the West Virginia Citizens Defense League (WVCDL) page at: http://www.wvcdl.org/
FANTASTIC!

[TwistedCopper]

Originally Posted by HiredGoon

Although not on either state's official page yet, it IS now listed on the West Virginia Citizens Defense League (WVCDL) page at: http://www.wvcdl.org/
FANTASTIC!

Awesome news!!! Thanks for the heads up

We're no longer "landlocked"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[RocketFoot]

Great news! I'd love to see a few more PA neighbors step up so we can cross state lines with out unloading our guns!

[NineseveN]

It's pretty amazing that they (FOAC, PSA etc...) were able to nurture this through with no additional requirements being attached to PA's LTCF licensing process.

§61-7-6a. Reciprocity; out-of-state concealed handgun permits.

...

(d) The West Virginia Attorney General shall seek to enter into and may execute reciprocity agreements on behalf of the state of West Virginia with states which meet the following standards and requirements:
(1) The standards applied by the other state before issuing a concealed handgun license or permit must be equal to or greater than the standards imposed by this article;
(2) This state's law enforcement officers have continuous access to data bases on the criminal information network, twenty- four hours per day, seven days per week, to verify the continued validity of any license or permit to carry a concealed handgun that has been granted by the issuing state;
(3) The other state agrees to grant the right to carry a concealed handgun to residents of West Virginia who have valid concealed handgun permits issued pursuant to this article in their possession while carrying concealed weapons in that state; and,
(4) The states agree to apprise one another of changes in permitting standards and requirements, to provide for a prompt reexamination of whether any adopted change in licensing or permitting standards negates the states' ability to continue with the reciprocity agreement.

...

(1). We don't have the same standards as we don't have a training requirement, which appears to no longer be a sticking point for WV on reciprocity with PA. That's great!

(2). We can do this no problem, in fact, we've been able to do this for quite some time. And that really does make sense from a practical point of view. Without getting into the debate that there should be no permit and no need for reciprocity, I would think that as things are now, the fact that PA already has this up and running (and has had it) is a great asset in discussions with other states about reciprocity.

(3). Since we've entered into reciprocity agreements similar to this one, it should have been a no-brainer.

(4). This one is always tough with any reciprocity agreement as a change to either of the states' processes could call the agreement into question. For instance, if PA were to somehow go miraculously to Vermont-Style carry law, that might convince WV and other states to consider dropping reciprocity (even though it shouldn't make a difference in all reality). Or, for another speculative example, if WV (or another state) changes their requirements to be more demanding, if PA (or whatever state with reciprocity) does not follow suit, a discussion would need to take place to ensure reciprocity remains even though we don't have the exact same standards. It seems as though, at least with West Virginia, this may not materialize into a problem since we're apparently getting reciprocity now while our standards do not match. Kudos to WVCDL, PSA, FOAC/ACSL, the respective AG's and anyone else involved for getting this done without impacting our rights here in PA.

[knight0334]

Originally Posted by NineseveN

(4). This one is always tough with any reciprocity agreement as a change to either of the states' processes could call the agreement into question. For instance, if PA were to somehow go miraculously to Vermont-Style carry law, that might convince WV and other states to consider dropping reciprocity (even though it shouldn't make a difference in all reality). Or, for another speculative example, if WV (or another state) changes their requirements to be more demanding, if PA (or whatever state with reciprocity) does not follow suit, a discussion would need to take place to ensure reciprocity remains even though we don't have the exact same standards. It seems as though, at least with West Virginia, this may not materialize into a problem since we're apparently getting reciprocity now while our standards do not match. Kudos to WVCDL, PSA, FOAC/ACSL, the respective AG's and anyone else involved for getting this done without impacting our rights here in PA.

What we need is an Alaskan style law where the permit is optional for use while traveling. Vermont style, while how things are supposed to be, would be a shot to the foot for traveling. The likeliness that even the most pro-carry states would go to Constitutional Carry is slim to none, let alone the borderline and anti-carry states.


Training should never be required to have the right to carry. Even though training is a good thing, it'd be like making someone go to school to get a permit to go to church.

Until I see the WV+PA agreement, its just rumor to me. Its possible that WV's AG looked the other way with their statutory requirement for even reciprocal licenses to have training, but somehow I have a feeling that someone in Charleston will challenge things.

[danp]

Has anyone seen any confirmation of this from an official source such as the WV or PA AG?

[NineseveN]

Originally Posted by danp

Has anyone seen any confirmation of this from an official source such as the WV or PA AG?

Nothing other than Kim Stolfer stating it as fact in a post here and the WVCDL's notice. There probably won't be anything until Monday at the earliest on either AG's website.

[dgg9]

Originally Posted by danp

Has anyone seen any confirmation of this from an official source such as the WV or PA AG?

PA AG site still has WV firmly in the no-reciprocity section.

[General Geoff]

This is great news.

Now we just need Maryland, New Jersey, and New York to follow suit.


...I'm not holding my breath either.

[jsb889]

Hehe, NJ/NY Reciprocity

Cabelas in WV outta be more fun for us near Pittsburgh if its put through