colorado slick
Regular Member
I am a Colorado resident but I am planning on coming into Fairmont. I have a CWP for Colorado. Is it legal for me to open carry in West Virgina?
Colorado Slick
Colorado Slick
West Virginia does Not appear to have reciprocity with Colorado (so no concealed carry), BUTI am a Colorado resident but I am planning on coming into Fairmont. I have a CWP for Colorado. Is it legal for me to open carry in West Virgina?
Colorado Slick
West Virginia does Not appear to have reciprocity with Colorado (so no concealed carry), BUT
West Virginia is also a 'traditional open carry state', which means you can legally Open Carry without a license.
The West Virginia Attorney General's office has thoughtfully provided a .PDF file that may be helpful.
Also, while the state police website says that open carry is for WV residents only, that is not at all true and has been backed up numerous times. Some rogue cops managed to get others to think this when it is absolutly not the case.
Q. Is it lawful to carry weapons (e.g. rifles, shotguns, and pistols) in my vehicle when I travel in West Virginia?
A. Individuals who possess a valid concealed carry permit may carry a concealed handgun in a motor vehicle for purpose of self defense only. West Virginia permits anyone who can lawfully possess a handgun to carry an unconcealed handgun. If you choose to carry an unconcealed handgun in your vehicle and are stopped by a law-enforcement officer, you must understand that that the weapon will immediately attract the attention of the police officer. The presence of the weapon may lead to action by the officer to ensure his or her safety such as the drawing of his or her weapon, ordering you from the vehicle, and/or performing a pat-down search. Weapons intended for hunting must be unloaded and in a case when transported in a vehicle. It is strongly recommended that, if you do not have a valid concealed carry permit, while traveling in a vehicle, that all firearms be unloaded and cased in a location in the vehicle that is not readily accessible to any of the occupants. Any ammunition should be stored in a separate location from the firearm.
Really, does it? Please provide a link to that page, because I haven't seen ANY such statement on the WV State Police's website.
My mistake. I thought to have read it on the State police website, however, I was mistaken and it was on handgunlaw.us an they cite the AG office. Since the last time I read it, they have added a note saying "I can find nothing in WV law that states only residents can open carry. Others are stating that the AG can not restrict open carry to just residents. I would not want to be the test case. Use Caution." I am well aware that open carry is completely legal for residents and non-residents. http://www.handgunlaw.us/states/westvirginia.pdf
My stating that it is completely legal for non-residents to open carry thought some sources may tell you it is hardly qualifies spreading an urban myth. I read a source saying that said it may not be legal for non-residents, and stated not to believe that source because it is not true. I made a mistake which source that was, but that is an error and not the spreading of an urban myth. There is no need to get bent out of shape.
Open Carry is 100% legal in WV for anyone who may legally possess a firearm.
Anyone who says differently is a liar.
Period. End of discussion.
While West Virginia is an “Open Carry” state, only residents of West Virginia may do
so.