Differing bills pass allowing 18-20-year-olds to conceal carry without permits

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — Both the West Virginia Senate and the House of Delegates have passed their own versions of legislation that would allow 18-, 19- and 20-year-olds to be able to conceal carry a weapon without a permit.

House Bill 4106 was passed on Tuesday in an 87-9 vote.

“It waives safety training and also background checks for 18, 19, 20-year-olds,” Del. Sean Hornbuckle, D-Cabell, said. “I believe that is highly problematic.”

18-20-year-olds have to apply for a temporary license to conceal carry under current law. This requires proof of handgun safety training.

For those who have not been prohibited from carrying a weapon, since 2016, people have been able to conceal carry in West Virginia without a permit, with open carry being legal for people 18 years and older.

“Since we passed our concealed carry law back in 2016, we have seen suicide rates up 22%,” Hornbuckle said. “We’ve seen homicide rates up 45%.”

Hornbuckle said he feels this legislation does not sync up with the Campus Carry Act passed in 2023, which allows students with a permit to conceal carry on public college and university grounds.

“We have no safeguards in that legislation to make sure that folks who are not doing right shouldn’t have those firearms or at least have to go through a different process to earn that,” he said.

Senate Bill 30 was passed 33-1 last week, with Sen. Joey Garcia being the only “no” vote.

“Those individuals, I think having a permit provides for a number of things that will protect their safety,” Garcia said on the Senate floor. “The main thing among them is to have the training course that you have to take for that. There’s a number of things we don’t allow for people just when they turn 18. Alcohol is just one example.”

Those in favor of both pieces of legislation said it’s a way to restore the full Second Amendment rights to 18-20-year-olds.

“Why should we deny them their full constitutional rights at age 18 if they’re old enough to go to war to defend the United States Constitution for everybody in this body and everybody in this state and country?” Senator Chris Rose said on the Senate floor.