WV Permitless Carry Incl. Knives Effective Today - Under Age 21 WARNING!

Knife Rights supported West Virginia Permitless (Constitutional) Carry law INCLUDING KNIVES is effective today, May 24, 2016, according to guidance provided by West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey. The new law allows West Virginians 21 years old and older, who are not prohibited persons, to carry a concealed "deadly weapon," INCLUDING KNIVES, without a permit. That includes switchblades (automatics), balisongs and gravity knives.

WARNING: Persons 18 years old but less than 21 years old may obtain a license to carry a concealed handgun BUT that license DOES NOT include concealed carry of a knife or any other "dangerous weapon." The penalties for anyone under 21 carrying a concealed knife illegally have been made far tougher. It is now a FELONY!

Anyone who is younger than 21 should be very careful to abide by West Virginia's 3.5-inch concealed carry limit and the total prohibition on concealed carry of switchblades (automatics), balisongs and gravity knives.

Also, knife carriers still face local restrictions on their right to carry a knife. West Virginia's existing preemption law protects firearms owners only.

Knife Rights will be working in West Virginia next year to try and fix this absurd change in the law that adversely impacts those under age 21 as well as again attempting to pass Knife Rights' signature Knife Law Preemption bill.

Knife Law Preemption repeals and prevents local ordinances more restrictive than state law which only serve to confuse or entrap law-abiding citizens traveling within or through the state. Preemption ensures citizens can expect consistent enforcement of state knife laws everywhere in a state.

Knife Rights passed the nation's first Knife Law Preemption bill in Arizona in 2010 and has since passed preemption bills in Alaska, Georgia, Kansas, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and most recently in Wisconsin.