West Virginia is charging ahead on the Second Amendment front, with the House of Delegates passing House Bill 4106 this week—a bold expansion of constitutional carry that lowers the permitless carry age from 21 to 18-20 year olds. This isn’t just a minor tweak; it’s a direct strike against the arbitrary age gates that have long treated young adults as second-class citizens when it comes to self-defense rights. Picture this: an 18-year-old can enlist in the military, sign legal contracts, and vote, yet until now, they’ve been legally disarmed in the Mountain State unless they jumped through permitting hoops. HB 4106 recognizes that reality, aligning carry rights with adulthood’s true onset and building on West Virginia’s already robust 2021 constitutional carry law for those 21 and up.
The implications ripple far beyond Charleston. For the 2A community, this is a masterclass in incremental wins fueling momentum—West Virginia now joins states like Florida, Georgia, and Texas in extending permitless carry to 18+, proving that adults under 21 is a policy fiction crumbling under scrutiny. Critics will cry blood in the streets, but data from shall-issue and constitutional carry expansions nationwide shows no spike in crime; if anything, armed citizens deter it. This bill’s dual-chamber progress signals a pro-gun trifecta in the legislature, potentially teeing up Governor Jim Justice’s signature amid his own 2A-friendly record. It’s a beacon for red states eyeing similar reforms, pressuring blue states via the federalism flywheel, and underscoring that the Bruen decision’s shall-issue mandate is just the floor—true reciprocity demands age parity.
As the bill hurtles toward the finish line, 2A advocates should celebrate this as more than legislation: it’s cultural affirmation that self-reliance isn’t age-restricted. Young patriots in WV can now carry without government permission, honing marksmanship and responsibility just like their forebears. Keep an eye on this—it’s the kind of state-level surge that could inspire a national youth carry renaissance, one holster at a time. Stay vigilant, stay armed, and watch the dominoes fall.
