West Virginia broadly preempts municipal and county firearm regulation under W. Va. Code 8-12-5a, leaving most lawmaking authority to the Legislature.
W. Va. Code 8-12-5a prohibits municipalities and counties from enacting ordinances, rules, or regulations relating to the purchase, possession, transfer, ownership, carrying, transport, sale, or storage of firearms, ammunition, or related accessories. Limited exceptions allow regulation in municipal recreation facilities and certain government buildings. The statute expressly authorizes lawsuits against localities that violate preemption, with attorney fees recoverable by the prevailing party. State law thus controls most aspects of firearm regulation throughout West Virginia.
A locality enacting a preempted ordinance may be sued and ordered to pay attorney fees and damages to a person adversely affected.
Charleston, WV
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Charleston, WV
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Charleston, WV
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Charleston, WV
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Charleston, WV
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Charleston, WV
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See how Charleston's local firearms preemption rules stack up against other locations.
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