Virginia concealed handgun reciprocity changes delayed to March 1

Effectively immediately, the Feb. 1, 2016, deadline for concealed handgun reciprocity revocations by the Commonwealth of Virginia has been delayed to March 1, 2016.

On Dec. 22, 2015, Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring announced the results of a yearlong legal analysis of the concealed handgun reciprocity agreements Virginia has maintained with many states. This analysis was to determine if the requirements and qualifications of that state’s law are adequate to prevent possession of a permit or license by persons who would be denied a permit in the Commonwealth pursuant to §18.2-308.14 of the Code of Virginia.

As a result of that analysis, the Attorney General determined that the laws in 25 states were insufficient and therefore recommended that the reciprocity agreement between those states and Virginia be revoked effectiveFeb. 1, 2016.  The state police then took the necessary steps to notify those states of the upcoming change.

Since December, members of Virginia’s General Assembly have worked diligently with Governor Terry McAuliffe on proposed legislation to revise the Code of Virginia with regards to the parameters for reciprocity.  As a result of these ongoing conversations and the Governor’s announcement made Friday afternoon, the original February deadline has now been extended to March 1, 2016.

Until the new March 1, 2016, Virginia will continue to recognize concealed handgun permits from those 25 states. For more information on those states, please go to the Virginia State Police Website atwww.vsp.virginia.gov.