West Virginia has shamefully weak gun laws and one of the highest gun death rates in the United States. Lawmakers must take immediate action to reverse this deadly trend.
The state does not require individuals to undergo a background check or obtain a permit to carry a loaded, concealed firearm in public. In 2023, West Virginia had the nineteenth highest gun death rate among the states. In an average year, 314 people died from gun violence in the state. That means someone dies from gun violence every 28 hours. Seventy-one percent of those deaths are gun suicides, and 25% are gun homicides. In West Virginia, the rate of gun deaths increased 15% from 2014 to 2023, compared to a 33% increase nationwide.
What West Virginia Does Well
- Domestic violence gun laws
- Certain disarming procedures
What West Virginia Is Missing
- Universal background checks
- Gun owner licensing
- Extreme risk protection orders
- Assault weapon restrictions
- Large capacity magazine ban
- Waiting periods
- Concealed carry permit
- Open carry regulations
- Child access prevention laws
SPOTLIGHT
GUN LAW SCORECARD
The data is clear: States with stronger gun laws have less gun violence. See how your state compares in our annual ranking.
Read MoreEXPLORE WEST VIRGINIA’S GUN LAWS
WHO CAN HAVE A GUN
OWNER RESPONSIBILITIES
CHILD & CONSUMER SAFETY
GUNS IN PUBLIC
HARDWARE & AMMUNITION
OTHER LAWS & POLICIES
SUPPORT GUN SAFETY
We’re in this together. To build a safer America—one where children and parents in every neighborhood can learn, play, work, and worship without fear of gun violence—we need you standing beside us in this fight.
