Jefferson County

[Big Daddy 45acp]

imported post

I am visiting my parents in Harpers Ferry this summer. I was wondering if anybody has and info on towns with pre-emptions and the general attitude of the LEOs and civilians towards open carry. I notice the sheriff is an ex-DC cop, which arouses my concerns.

I have also been hearing a lot about MS-13 operating in this area. I take NO chances with gang bangers, especially this group!

Also, there is a stretch of highway that goes through the National park area. Any stories or personal experiences with the NP Police?

Thanks!

 

[longwatch]

imported post

West Virginia as far as I have ever heard is open carry friendly. Be advised that the town of Harpers Ferry has areas that are part of the National Park. Simply crossing a street can put you in the park. So no carry of any sort is legal there. Also avoid crossing the river into MD, no open carry allowed there, although you would be fine in VA. Best action, get a good map and know where all the boundarys are. http://www.nps.gov/hafe/pphtml/maps.html

 

[rambling_one]

imported post

We're from Maryland andspent yesterday in WV at the Heritage Festival just outside of Harper's Ferry.

I struck up a conversation with a Jefferson County sheriff deputy, mentioned this site, and asked how popular open carry was in the area. He was surprised at WV's "gold star"status and said he had NEVER seen anyone openly carry with the exception of a single hunter a while back. He was quick to point out that it's quite easy in WV to get a concealed carry permit, wished us a pleasant day and drove off on his motor cart.

Of course, prior to visiting this site this morning, I was unaware that there are cities in WV that may legally ban firearm carry.

 

[hirundo82]

imported post

Sure, its easy to get a CC permit if you are a West Virginia resident. However, the only other permits they honor are Virginia and Kentucky resident permits. If those of us who are not from those three states want to carry legally in WV, OC is our only option.

 

[rambling_one]

imported post

That, of course, is the problem. Havingunidentified pre-empted cities adds to the confusion, as does the on-going debate over whether or not WV honors VA non-resident permits. It would be so simple for the State to clarify these issues. Why it doesn't is beyond me.

 

[Simon]

imported post

longwatch,

I can't remember where (or if) I read that it was okay to carry concealed with in a national park with a WV CCW. Is it really the case that you must be un-armed in the middle of a national park?

Thanks - Simon

 

[hirundo82]

imported post

Carry of any sort is off limits in National Parks nationwide. Firearms must be unloaded and locked out of reach.

National Forests have a much more reasonable policy. They follow the laws of the state in which they are located. So if you can carry concealed in that state you can do so in the National Forest; same with OC. A few states have laws prohibiting carry in National Forests (TN is the first one to come to mind), but the Forest Service has no problems with it on a federal level. Apparently there are far fewer liberals in the Forest Service than in the Park Service.

And rambling_one, I agree with you on hoping WV decides to honor VA non-res permits. I'll apply for a Virginia non-res immediately if that happens--most of my family is in VA anyhow. Of course, I'd much prefer that WV started to honor permits from more states, but sadly coming from MD that wouldn't help you much.

 

[rambling_one]

imported post

There's hardly a safer or more conscientious group than holders ofconcealed carry permits. Most of us expend great effort in trying to understand the governing rules. It's one thing for a state to write ambiguous regulations; it's another when it knows there's a problem and refuses to clarify it. :X

 

[ilbob]

imported post

hirundo82 wrote:

Carry of any sort is off limits in National Parks nationwide. Firearms must be unloaded and locked out of reach.

National Forests have a much more reasonable policy. They follow the laws of the state in which they are located. So if you can carry concealed in that state you can do so in the National Forest; same with OC. A few states have laws prohibiting carry in National Forests (TN is the first one to come to mind), but the Forest Service has no problems with it on a federal level. Apparently there are far fewer liberals in the Forest Service than in the Park Service.

And rambling_one, I agree with you on hoping WV decides to honor VA non-res permits. I'll apply for a Virginia non-res immediately if that happens--most of my family is in VA anyhow. Of course, I'd much prefer that WV started to honor permits from more states, but sadly coming from MD that wouldn't help you much.

I think the reason for the difference in the rules between national forests and national parks is because hunting has long been allowed in national forests and somewhere along the line someone made the perfectly rational decision to have the local states control hunting rules there.

I seem to recall WV changed the law a year or two ago to now allow more reciprocal agreements. And I think they can apply to non-resident permits now. It may not be real high on the priority list of whoever is in charge of such things.

 

[hirundo82]

imported post

The West Virginia statute now reads that the governor's office MAY enter into reciprocal agreements with other states, and we all know where may gets us. After all, New Jersey and Hawaii are may-issue CCW states, and we know how many permits they issue.

There appear to have been several bills introduced in the last session to improve reciprocity, but they did not pass. They would have required WV to extend recognition to states that honor a WV permit, and would have required the Attorney General to make a list of those states anually.

 

[ilbob]

imported post

hirundo82 wrote:

The West Virginia statute now reads that the governor's office MAY enter into reciprocal agreements with other states, and we all know where may gets us. After all, New Jersey and Hawaii are may-issue CCW states, and we know how many permits they issue.

There appear to have been several bills introduced in the last session to improve reciprocity, but they did not pass. They would have required WV to extend recognition to states that honor a WV permit, and would have required the Attorney General to make a list of those states anually.

It may not be all that important to people that live in WV so the politicians just don't care to do the work. Can't blame them all that much. Maybe the WV rifle association should get after the politicians.

The WVSRPA does not have a web site so I am going to email their president the URL of this thread. maybe he will be able to get them moving along.

 

[hirundo82]

imported post

Yeah, normally I would say that politicians not working is a good thing (keeps them out of trouble) but in this situation it is not helpful, especially for those of us who like to visit WV.

 

[RomanCatholic]

imported post

Parkersburg is an open carry city as quoted from a Parkersburg Police Officer. No provisions are currently on the books preventing it.

 

[ilbob]

imported post

ilbob wrote:

The WVSRPA does not have a web site so I am going to email their president the URL of this thread. maybe he will be able to get them moving along.

Well, I emailed him a week ago. No response. I guess the VWSRPA either does not answer its email or does not care about this issue.

I did note that their website address goes to a holding place for web sites that have no actual content.

The first email bounced after a couple of days. I than tried an alternate address but received no response.

 

[ProguninTN]

imported post

I've been to WV twice. Once to Martinsburg, and another time to Beckley, and White Sulphur Springs. I don't recall seeing open carry. Although, I did pass some shooting ranges. Perhaps there may have been some open carriers therethat I just didn't see ?

ProguninTN

 

[wv_guy]

imported post

ilbob wrote:

ilbob wrote:

The WVSRPA does not have a web site so I am going to email their president the URL of this thread. maybe he will be able to get them moving along.

Well, I emailed him a week ago. No response. I guess the VWSRPA either does not answer its email or does not care about this issue.

I did note that their website address goes to a holding place for web sites that have no actual content.

The first email bounced after a couple of days. I than tried an alternate address but received no response.

The WVSRPA site has been dead for some time now becauseit wasn't registared in the Assoc's name and was taken. The West Virginia State Rifle and Pistol Assoc. has a new site http://www.wvasrpa.org.

 

[fxshooter]

imported post

A new reciprocity bill did pass this session in WV.It is now the attorney General's responsibility to add more states to WV'S list. He seems to be moving fast on it.

 

[fxshooter]

imported post

Try www.wvcdl.org

They were just formed recently.

 

[Agent6-3/8]

imported post

The WVCDL is working on getting reciprocity improved. I new bill was passed that may improve things, but its really in the hands of the Attorney General and he seems willing to help.

To the question at hand. Much of Harper's Ferry is an National Park and that means no carry period. Carry is OK in WV State Parks, but National Parks fall under Federal law. I haven't been in Harpers Ferry in several years, but it seemed like a nice tourist town. I know that the SHTF can happen anywhere, but I wouldn't worry myself gray about not being able to carry there.

I've lived in WV my entire life and have only seena fewpeople OC'ing. One of which was our own badmonkey. Its just not a common thing. I will say that I've never had a bad experience while OCing. People really just don't notice or if they do, they don't care.