H. B. 3074
(By Delegates Varner, Proudfoot, Stemple, Mahan,
Hrutkay, Tabb, Browning, Kominar,Stalnaker,
Shaver and Moye)
[Introduced February 14, 2007; referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary]
A BILL to amend and reenact §61-7-4 and §61-7-6 of the Code of West
Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend said code by adding
thereto a new section, designated §61-7-6a, all relating to
the carrying of concealed weapons; clarifying the scope of a
concealed weapons permit; amending reciprocity requirements;
authorizing the Attorney General to investigate and execute
reciprocity agreements with other states pertaining to the
mutual recognition of permits or licenses to carry concealed
handguns; setting forth minimum standards which must be met
before such reciprocity agreements may be executed; clarifying
the scope of valid out-of-state permits that may be recognized
in West Virginia; establishing a registry of states with which
West Virginia has entered into reciprocal agreements; and
providing for public information regarding the applicable
concealed weapons and carrying standards of the respective
states.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That §61-7-4 and §61-7-6 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931,
as amended, be amended and reenacted; and that said code be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §61-7-6a, all to read
as follows:
ARTICLE 7. DANGEROUS WEAPONS.
§61-7-4. License to carry deadly weapons; how obtained.
(a) Except as provided in subsection (h) of this section, any
person desiring to obtain a state license to carry a concealed
deadly weapon shall apply to the sheriff of his or her county for
such license, and shall pay to the sheriff, at the time of
application, a fee of seventy-five dollars, of which fifteen
dollars of that amount shall be deposited in the courthouse
facilities improvement fund created by section six, article
twenty-six, chapter twenty-nine of this code. Concealed weapons
permits may only be issued for pistols or revolvers. Each
applicant shall file with the sheriff, a complete application, as
prepared by the superintendent of the West Virginia state police,
in writing, duly verified, which sets forth only the following
licensing requirements:
(1) The applicant's full name, date of birth, social security
number and a description of the applicant's physical features;
(2) That, on the date the application is made, the applicant
is a bona fide resident of this state and of the county in which
the application is made and has a valid driver's license or other
state-issued photo identification showing such residence;
(3) That the applicant is twenty-one years of age or older:
Provided, That any individual who is less than twenty-one years of
age and possesses a properly issued concealed weapons license as of the effective date of this article shall be licensed to maintain
his or her concealed weapons license notwithstanding the provisions
of this section requiring new applicants to be at least twenty-one
years of age: Provided, however, That upon a showing of any
applicant who is eighteen years of age or older that he or she is
required to carry a concealed weapon as a condition for employment,
and presents satisfactory proof to the sheriff thereof, then he or
she shall be issued a license upon meeting all other conditions of
this section. Upon discontinuance of employment that requires the
concealed weapons license, if the individual issued the license is
not yet twenty-one years of age, then the individual issued the
license is no longer eligible and must return his or her license to
the issuing sheriff;
(4) That the applicant is not addicted to alcohol, a
controlled substance or a drug and is not an unlawful user thereof;
(5) That the applicant has not been convicted of a felony or
of an act of violence involving the misuse of a deadly weapon;
(6) That the applicant has not been convicted of a
misdemeanor offense of assault or battery either under the
provisions of section twenty-eight, article two of this chapter or
the provisions of subsection (b) or (c), section nine, article two
of this chapter in which the victim was a current or former spouse,
current or former sexual or intimate partner, person with whom the
defendant has a child in common, person with whom the defendant
cohabits or has cohabited, a parent or guardian, the defendant's
child or ward or a member of the defendant's household at the time of the offense; or a misdemeanor offense with similar essential
elements in a jurisdiction other than this state;
(7) That the applicant is not under indictment for a felony
offense or is not currently serving a sentence of confinement,
parole, probation or other court-ordered supervision imposed by a
court of any jurisdiction or is the subject of an emergency or
temporary domestic violence protective order or is the subject of
a final domestic violence protective order entered by a court of
any jurisdiction;
(8) That the applicant is physically and mentally competent to
carry such weapon;
(9) That the applicant has not been adjudicated to be mentally
incompetent;
(10) That the applicant has qualified under the minimum
requirements set forth in subsection (d) of this section for
handling and firing such weapon: Provided, That this requirement
shall be waived in the case of a renewal applicant who has
previously qualified;
(11) That the applicant authorizes the sheriff of the county,
or his or her designee, to conduct an investigation relative to the
information contained in the application.
(b) The sheriff shall conduct an investigation which shall
verify that the information required in subdivisions (1), (2), (3),
(5), (6), (8) and (9), subsection (a) of this section are true and
correct.
(c) Sixty dollars of the application fee and any fees for replacement of lost or stolen licenses received by the sheriff
shall be deposited by the sheriff into a concealed weapons license
administration fund. Such fund shall be administered by the
sheriff and shall take the form of an interest bearing account with
any interest earned to be compounded to the fund. Any funds
deposited in this concealed weapon license administration fund are
to be expended by the sheriff to pay for the costs associated with
issuing concealed weapons licenses. Any surplus in the fund on
hand at the end of each fiscal year may be expended for other
law-enforcement purposes or operating needs of the sheriff's
office, as the sheriff may consider appropriate.
(d) All persons applying for a license must complete a
training course in handling and firing a handgun. The successful
completion of any of the following courses fulfills this training
requirement:
(1) Any official national rifle association handgun safety or
training course;
(2) Any handgun safety or training course or class available
to the general public offered by an official law-enforcement
organization, community college, junior college, college or private
or public institution or organization or handgun training school
utilizing instructors duly certified by such institution;
(3) Any handgun training or safety course or class conducted
by a handgun instructor certified as such by the state or by the
national rifle association;
(4) Any handgun training or safety course or class conducted by any branch of the United States military, reserve or national
guard.
A photocopy of a certificate of completion of any of the
courses or classes or an affidavit from the instructor, school,
club, organization or group that conducted or taught said course or
class attesting to the successful completion of the course or class
by the applicant or a copy of any document which shows successful
completion of the course or class shall constitute evidence of
qualification under this section.
(e) All concealed weapons license applications must be
notarized by a notary public duly licensed under article four,
chapter twenty-nine of this code. Falsification of any portion of
the application constitutes false swearing and is punishable under
the provisions of section two, article five, chapter sixty-one of
this code.
(f) If the information in the application is found to be true
and correct, the sheriff shall issue a license. The sheriff shall
issue or deny the license within forty-five days after the
application is filed if all required background checks authorized
by this section are completed.
(g) Before any approved license shall be issued or become
effective, the applicant shall pay to the sheriff a fee in the
amount of fifteen dollars which the sheriff shall forward to the
superintendent of the West Virginia state police within thirty days
of receipt. Any such license shall be valid for five years
throughout the state, unless sooner revoked.
(h) All persons holding a current and valid concealed weapons
license as of the sixteenth day of December, one thousand nine
hundred ninety-five, shall continue to hold a valid concealed
weapons license until his or her license expires or is revoked as
provided in this article: Provided, That all reapplication fees
shall be waived for applications received by the first day of
January, one thousand nine hundred ninety-seven, for any person
holding a current and valid concealed weapons license as of the
sixteenth day of December, one thousand nine hundred ninety-five,
which contains use restrictions placed upon the license as a
condition of issuance by the issuing circuit court. Any licenses
reissued pursuant to this subsection will be issued for the time
period of the original license.
(I) Each license shall contain the full name, social security
number and address of the licensee and a space upon which the
signature of the licensee shall be signed with pen and ink. The
issuing sheriff shall sign and attach his or her seal to all
license cards. The sheriff shall provide to each new licensee a
duplicate license card, in size similar to other state
identification cards and licenses, suitable for carrying in a
wallet, and such license card is deemed a license for the purposes
of this section.
(j) The superintendent of the West Virginia state police shall
prepare uniform applications for licenses and license cards showing
that such license has been granted and shall do any other act
required to be done to protect the state and see to the enforcement of this section.
(k) In the event an application is denied, the specific
reasons for the denial shall be stated by the sheriff denying the
application. Any person denied a license may file, in the circuit
court of the county in which the application was made, a petition
seeking review of the denial. Such petition shall be filed within
thirty days of the denial. The court shall then determine whether
the applicant is entitled to the issuance of a license under the
criteria set forth in this section. The applicant may be
represented by counsel, but in no case shall the court be required
to appoint counsel for an applicant. The final order of the court
shall include the court's findings of fact and conclusions of law.
If the final order upholds the denial, the applicant may file an
appeal in accordance with the rules of appellate procedure of the
supreme court of appeals.
(l) In the event a license is lost or destroyed, the person to
whom the license was issued may obtain a duplicate or substitute
license for a fee of five dollars by filing a notarized statement
with the sheriff indicating that the license has been lost or
destroyed.
(m) The sheriff shall, immediately after the license is
granted as aforesaid, furnish the superintendent of the West
Virginia state police a certified copy of the approved application.
It shall be the duty of the sheriff to furnish to the
superintendent of the West Virginia state police at any time so
requested a certified list of all such licenses issued in the county. The superintendent of the West Virginia state police shall
maintain a registry of all persons who have been issued concealed
weapons licenses.
(n) All licensees must carry with them a state-issued photo
identification card with the concealed weapons license whenever the
licensee is carrying a concealed weapon. Any licensee who fails to
have in his or her possession a state-issued photo identification
card and a current concealed weapons license while carrying a
concealed weapon shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon
conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than fifty or more than
two hundred dollars for each offense.
(o) The sheriff shall deny any application or revoke any
existing license upon determination that any of the licensing
application requirements established in this section have been
violated by the licensee.
(p) No person who is engaged in the receipt, review or in the
issuance or revocation of a concealed weapon license shall incur
any civil liability as the result of the lawful performance of his
or her duties under this article.
(q) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this
section, with respect to application by a former law-enforcement
officer honorably retired from agencies governed by article
fourteen, chapter seven of this code; article fourteen, chapter
eight of this code; article two, chapter fifteen of this code; and
article seven, chapter twenty of this code, an honorably retired
officer is exempt from payment of fees and costs as otherwise required by this section, and the application of the honorably
retired officer shall be granted without proof or inquiry by the
sheriff as to those requirements set forth in subdivision (9),
subsection (a) of this section, if the officer meets the remainder
of the requirements of this section and has the approval of the
appropriate chief law-enforcement officer.
® Except as restricted or prohibited by the provisions of this
article or as otherwise prohibited by law, the issuance of a
concealed weapon permit issued in accordance with the provisions of
this section shall authorize the holder of the permit to carry a
concealed pistol or revolver on the lands or waters of this state.
§61-7-6. Exceptions as to prohibitions against carrying concealed
deadly weapons.
The licensure provisions set forth in this article do not
apply to:
(1) Any person carrying a deadly weapon upon his or her own
premises; nor shall anything herein prevent a person from carrying
any firearm, unloaded, from the place of purchase to his or her
home, residence or place of business or to a place of repair and
back to his or her home, residence or place of business, nor shall
anything herein prohibit a person from possessing a firearm while
hunting in a lawful manner or while traveling from his or her home,
residence or place of business to a hunting site and returning to
his or her home, residence or place of business;
(2) Any person who is a member of a properly organized
target-shooting club authorized by law to obtain firearms by
purchase or requisition from this state or from the United States for the purpose of target practice from carrying any pistol, as
defined in this article, unloaded, from his or her home, residence
or place of business to a place of target practice and from any
place of target practice back to his or her home, residence or
place of business, for using any such weapon at a place of target
practice in training and improving his or her skill in the use of
the weapons;
(3) Any law-enforcement officer or law-enforcement official as
defined in section one, article twenty-nine, chapter thirty of this
code;
(4) Any employee of the West Virginia Division of Corrections
duly appointed pursuant to the provisions of section five, article
five, chapter twenty-eight of this code while the employee is on
duty;
(5) Any member of the Armed Forces of the United States or the
militia of this state while the member is on duty;
(6) Any circuit judge, including any retired circuit judge
designated senior status by the Supreme Court of Appeals of West
Virginia, Prosecuting Attorney, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney or
a duly appointed investigator employed by a Prosecuting Attorney;
(7) Any resident of another state who has been issued holds a
valid license to carry a concealed weapon by a state or a political
subdivision which has entered into a reciprocity agreement with
this state, The governor may execute reciprocity agreements on
behalf of the state of West Virginia with states or political
subdivisions which have similar gun permitting laws and which
recognize and honor West Virginia licenses issued pursuant to section four of this article; subject to the provisions and
limitations set forth in section six-a of this article;
(8) Any federal law-enforcement officer or federal police
officer authorized to carry a weapon in the performance of the
officer's duty; and
(9) Any Hatfield-McCoy regional recreation authority ranger
while the ranger is on duty.
§61-7-6a. Reciprocity; out-of-state concealed handgun permits.
(a) A holder of a valid out-of-state permit or license to
carry a concealed handgun, as issued by another state with which
the State of West Virginia has executed a reciprocity agreement,
shall be recognized as valid in this state, if the following
conditions are met:
(1) The permit or license holder is a resident of the issuing
state;
(2) The permit or license holder is 21 years or older;
(3) The permit or license is in his or her immediate
possession;
(4) The permit or license holder is not a resident of the
state of West Virginia; and,
(5) The State of West Virginia has executed a valid and
effective reciprocity agreement with the issuing state pertaining
to the carrying and verification of concealed handgun licenses and
permits issued in the respective states.
(b) A holder of a valid permit or license from another state
who is authorized to carry a concealed handgun in this state
pursuant to provisions of this section is subject to the same laws and restrictions with respect to carrying a concealed handgun as a
resident of West Virginia who is so permitted, and must carry the
concealed handgun in compliance with the laws of this state.
© No license or permit from another state is valid in this
state if the holder is or becomes prohibited by law from possessing
a firearm.
(d) The Attorney General of the State of West Virginia 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.
(e) The Attorney General shall maintain a registry of states
that with which the State of West Virginia has entered into
reciprocity agreements meet the requirements of this section on the
West Virginia criminal information network and make the registry
available to law-enforcement officers for investigative purposes.
(f) Every twelve months after the effective date of this
section, the Attorney General shall make written inquiry of the
concealed handgun permitting authorities in each other state as to:
(i)Whether a West Virginia resident may carry a concealed handgun
in their state based upon having a valid West Virginia concealed
handgun permit; and (ii) whether a West Virginia resident may carry
a concealed handgun in that state based upon having a valid West
Virginia concealed handgun permit, pursuant to the laws of that
state or by the execution of a valid reciprocity agreement between
the states.
(g) The Attorney General shall make information available by
public website to list the states whose out-of-state permits and
licenses to carry concealed handguns are recognized as valid in
this state, list the states which accord recognition to West
Virginia permits issued pursuant to this article, and provide
access to information or links regarding the respective carrying
standards and requirements of each listed state.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to
clarify the scope of a
concealed weapons permit and to amend the standards and procedures
for evaluating, approving and implementing reciprocity agreements
that allow for the mutual recognition of permits or licenses to
carry concealed handguns issued by West Virginia and other
qualifying states.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from
the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would
be added.