Virginia’s New Concealed Carry Reciprocity to Start February 1

Virginia Has Cut Agreements With 25 States

Mother Shoots Home Intruder to Protect Family Underscores Importance of Right to Bear Arms

Since the time of this article’s posting, the changes to reciprocity listed in this article have been changed and postponed by the Governor of Virginia. Please click here and read this announcement from the Governor’s Office to learn more.

Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring will end the state’s concealed carry reciprocity agreements with 25 states. This decision comes before Governor Terry McAuliffe leaves office.

The reciprocity agreements are reportedly being cut from states said to have “weaker” concealed carry requirements than those of Virginia’s. Nothing specified as to what makes the requirements weaker have been revealed. Under the new policy, however, Virginia residents with a history of stalking, drug dealing, or inpatient mental-health treatment are unable to get a permit in a state with lenient laws and carry a handgun legally at home.

“To me, this is a commonsense step that can help make Virginians and our law enforcement officers safer by ensuring that Virginia’s laws on who can and cannot carry a concealed handgun are applied evenly, consistently, and fairly,” Herring, a Democrat, said in a statement he provided to The Washington Post.

Virginia’s concealed carry reciprocity agreement with the “weaker” states is effective Feb. 1, according to Herring’s office.

The states that Virginia is severing reciprocity agreements are: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Other states that will remain in agreement with Virginia are West Virginia, Michigan, Oklahoma, Texas, and Utah.

Herring went on to explain that by severing so many out-of-state agreements, this can prevent people who may be threatening or irresponsible from carrying a concealed firearm.

Virginia law compiled 20 conditions that would essentially disqualify an individual from legally being issued a concealed carry handgun permit. They include anyone who’s in the United States illegally, subject to a protection from abuse order, or convicted of any number of criminal offenses ranging from driving under the influence to assault and battery.