General Questions

• When will this law be effective?  July 1, 2024
• What is the “Campus Carry” law?  The law essentially allows those individuals with proper permits to carry a concealed weapon to do so no the University property, although some restrictions do apply.
• Could West Liberty University (WLU) have opted out of the Campus Carry law?  No, all state universities in West Virginia are required to adhere to this new law.
• Does the law allow anyone to carry a concealed weapon at WLU?  No, only those individuals who have valid Concealed Handgun Licenses (CHLs) or provisional CHL with the state of West Virginia can legally carry on campus.
• Is open carry permitted on WLU campus?  No, open carry is not permitted by any non-law enforcement entity on campus.
• Who is eligible for a Concealed Handgun License (CHL) in West Virginia?  Individuals over 21 years of age are eligible for CHL, unless they have restrictions due to criminal activity.  Individuals between 18 and 21 can obtain a provisional CHL.
• What weapons are covered under the license to carry permit?  Handguns are the only guns covered under this law.
• If WV has reciprocity with another state and that state allows concealed carry at age 18, can a license holder from the other state who is younger than 21 carry a handgun in WV?
• Can I ask someone if they are carrying a concealed handgun or have a CHL for a concealed handgun?  Only law enforcement can question an individual regarding gun possession under this law.
• Is there an accessible public list with the names of individuals on campus who are license holders?  No, the allow does not allow for collection and publication of this information.

Exclusion Areas

• Are there any places that an CHL holder cannot carry a concealed handgun at WLU? Yes, there are several locations that a handgun cannot be carried for any reason at any time by anyone other than law enforcement.  There are additional locations that may not allow a handgun during specific activities or periods of time.  For a full list of restricted locations, please click here.
• Can I carry or store a concealed handgun in my on campus housing, including residence hall room, apartment, or student house?  A concealed handgun is permitted in specific areas of WLU-owned residence halls.  A concealed handgun is not permitted in student houses or apartments (including all graduate student houses, Greek houses, Topper Village, Topper Towers, University Place, University Place II, Topper Towers, or Commons Apartments).  At these locations students are required to store handguns in their locked vehicle or utilize the handgun storage room at Krise Hall.  Handguns cannot be stored or carried in individual rooms within any residence hall, but are permitted in common areas.
• Where can a residential student store their handgun?  There is a designated storage locker room in Krise Hall.  This space will be separate from the residential portion of the building with it’s own entrance and exit location.  Students can request a locker to get access to this space, which will have access limited to only those registered for a lockbox.  Students can also opt to store their handgun in their personal vehicles, which must be locked any time the handgun is in the vehicle.
• How will I know where I cannot carry a concealed handgun as a CHL holder at WLU?  In addition to the information provided on this page, the University will provide information through campus educational sessions, emails, and with signs at the locations as well.
• Can colleges, departments, offices, or individual classrooms declare they are gun-free zones?  No, specific departments or offices cannot decide they are gun free zones.  Only those designated in the gun restricted and gun free zone lists can be designated as such.
• Does a supervisor have the right to prohibit staff employees and/or vendors from carrying a concealed handgun in the campus work environment? No, a supervisor cannot restrict anyone who has a valid CHL and is adhering to all campus policy and WV state laws.

Safety

• Where can I store my handgun if I am going to an exclusion area?  In addition to one residential storage location, there will be two storage locations on campus: in Shaw Hall by the Campus Police Office and in the College Union on the ground floor.  Individuals can register for a locker in either of these locations in order to obtain a locker and access to the locked storage areas.  Individuals can also opt to store their handgun in their personal vehicles, which must be locked any time the handgun is in the vehicle.
• Is there a cost affiliated with storing my handgun in an on campus storage option?
• What should I do if I see a handgun or any other type of weapon on campus?  If you see a handgun in violation of campus policy but there is no threat to life, contact Campus Police at (304)336-8021.  If you see a handgun brandished or used in a threatening or violent manner with threat to life, contact 911 immediately.
• Can a CCL holder carry his/her/their handgun in a backpack or purse? Yes, but the backpack or purse must be in their possession (on their person or immediately next to them) at all times.
• May I use a concealed handgun in self-defense if there are shots being fired?  As part of the active shooter drills and training, WLU does not advocate for students using their personal weapons in these scenarios for several reasons regarding safety.  In these incidents, the situation is often highly dynamic with noises, movement, and chaos.  A shot could injury an unintended target as a result of this chaos and the adrenaline of the gun-holder.  Additionally, when law enforcement respond to an active shooter scenario, they are looking for the person with a gun.  They cannot determine if the person carrying the gun is the perpetrator or another individual attempting to defend themselves.  The best option is to follow the theory taught through Homeland Security’s Run, Hide, Fight training or ALICE training.
• What procedures does the University have in place to deal with someone who violates the policies around the Campus Carry law?  Employees in violation of this law will be addressed through the Human Resources office according to their policies and procedures.  Students in violation will be addressed through the Student Conduct processes.  Guests will be banned from campus immediately and permanently.  All individuals in violation may face citation from WLU Police.
• Is there any safety training for what I should do in an active shooter situation?  There will be ALICE training for active shooter response each semester available to students and employees.  If a group or organization wishes to request ALICE training, please email msnyder@westliberty.edu.
• Are there mental health resources and trainings to assist students who may have difficulty with these changes?   Yes, we provide free mental health resources for students through our on campus Counseling Services.  As part of that service, students can access virtual mental health resources through BetterMynd.  Additional support is offered through the Behavioral Health Clinic.  Anyone who is concerned about an individual’s mental health can also make referrals to our Behavioral Intervention Team.

Additional questions can be directed to campuscarry@westliberty.edu.