The National Rifle Association says 6.3 million concealed carry permit holders will be affected by Virginia’s Democrat Attorney General’s move to no longer recognize out of state concealed carry permit holders’ firearm reciprocity privileges from 25 other states.
“Plain and simple, this is putting politics above public safety. This decision is both dangerous and shameful. The Attorney General knows that permit holders are among the safest groups of citizens in the commonwealth and the rest of the country,” Chris Cox, executive director of NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action, said in an e-mail statement to The Daily Caller.
“At a time when people are scared and desperately need the ability to defend themselves, Herring has chosen the path of making self-defense harder,” Cox said.
Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring announced Tuesday that the soon to be former reciprocating 25 states did not meet Virginia’s concealed carry minimum standard requirements after a months long audit. The change will go into effect on February 1. (RELATED: Va. Dem. Attorney General Strikes Another Blow To State’s Gun Laws)
North Carolina, Kentucky and Tennessee all share a border with Virginia and have gun permits the commonwealth will no longer honor.
The Attorney General’s Office said, “25 states lacked adequate disqualifiers to deny a permit to someone who would be barred from obtaining a permit in Virginia.”
“Those affected by this reckless political decision are law-abiding citizens – not dangerous criminals. Attorney General Herring is putting lives at risk by removing the constitutional right of law-abiding citizens to defend themselves in the Commonwealth,” Cox continued. “The National Rifle Association will fight this decision in every arena possible. Further, this reaffirms our commitment to enact national right to carry reciprocity legislation in Congress.”
Without other state carry permits, such as Utah and Nevada, Virginia CCW holders lose reciprocity in Florida, Louisiana, North Dakota, South Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wyoming. Other states Herring listed may pull their reciprocity agreements with Virginia as well.
However, Virginia will continue to honor those with state permits from Michigan, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah or West Virginia.
Herring told the Virginia State Police to begin notifying the states below that Virginia will no longer recognize their state’s concealed carry permits:
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
Delaware #
Florida *
Idaho
Indiana
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana *
Minnesota #
Mississippi
Montana
Nebraska
New Mexico
North Dakota *
North Carolina
Ohio
Pennsylvania *
South Carolina *
South Dakota
Tennessee
Washington #
Wisconsin #
Wyoming *
* indicates states that will no longer honor Virginia concealed carry permits because of laws in those states that require mutual recognition of permits
# indicates states that do not currently recognize a Virginia concealed carry permit