Car Carry Question

[BSnyder]

Hello again folks. I have another question about carrying in West Virginia. Well, I think this kind of applies anywhere.

My wife and I are taking a trip to Charleston in the AM for a doctor's appointment. I know Charleston has some weird rules about places you can and can't carry and a lot of the hospitals are no carry zones so I wasn't planning on carrying on my person. Concealed means concealed I know but I'm not quite comfortable with that yet.

On to my question. I still wanted to take my firearm with me and just leave it in the glovebox. I'm curious though about who in the vehicle has to have the concealed permit for glovebox carry. As unmanly as it is, my wife likes to drive due to nausea on the country back roads. She's apparently unaffected by it if she drives. Anyway, she doesn't have her permit so would it be illegal if we had the firearm in the glovebox while I was in the passenger seat? I suppose I could carry until we hit the highway so I can drive but I was really just curious with this situation to begin with. Thanks everybody!

 

[JerryC]

The West Virginia State Police strongly recommend that if one does not have a concealed handgun permit, all weapons transported in a motor vehicle should be unloaded with the ammunition stored separately.
Lastly, West Virginia law requires that hunting weapons being transported in a vehicle be unloaded and in cases.
It is important to note that while West Virginia is an “open carry” state the ability to carry openly is deemed by law enforcement to apply only to West Virginia residents. West Virginia law enforcement’s interpretation of “open carry” is that the handgun must be visible from three sides.
http://www.wvago.gov/pdf/BookletWVFirearmLaws.pdf

 

[Bubbles]

It is important to note that while West Virginia is an “open carry” state the ability to carry openly is deemed by law enforcement to apply only to West Virginia residents.

While that is in the booklet, there is no statutory authority behind it. Also when it first came out the WVSP and AG's office started pointing fingers at who demanding it be included, since it's false.

If the WVCDL forums were up I could link to a discussion on it, but they had a catastrophic server/hardware failure a few days ago, so they'll be down until it's fixed.

 

[hermannr]

I like our "official" booklet better. It only has all the applicable law in it, no opinions.

Anyway, if your wife does not have a cpl (or whatever you call it in WV) I would recommend you follow OC rules IF she is going to be the only person in the vehicle at any time.

If you are a permit holder, and you are in the vehicle, that should be enough to cover any other situation.

BTW: we have a daughter that is the same as your wife..as a passenger, she can get quite ill, as a driver, she does not.