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HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced this week that a new reciprocity agreement has been finalized with Virginia, officially allowing Virginia concealed carry permit holders to lawfully carry in Pennsylvania. While Virginia has long honored all valid out-of-state concealed carry permits—including Pennsylvania’s—Pennsylvania had not previously recognized Virginia permits, creating a one-way arrangement that this agreement now corrects.
The agreement, reached in cooperation with Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, makes Virginia the 30th state with which Pennsylvania holds a mutual concealed carry reciprocity agreement.
“Shortly after taking office, I asked my staff to review opportunities to maximize reciprocity agreements with willing states, and ensure all existing and future agreements protect and respect standing law and constitutional rights,” AG Sunday stated. “Our research of law in both states revealed nothing conflicting that would disallow permit holders to carry in both states.”
Pennsylvania’s legal team initiated contact with the Virginia State Police in early April to renew and update the Memorandum of Agreement (MOU) outlining “mutual recognition of a license to carry a firearm issued by the Commonwealth and a license or permit to carry a firearm issued by another state.”
Under the agreement, concealed carry license holders from both states are permitted to carry a concealed handgun on their person or in their vehicle while visiting the other state, so long as they meet the following criteria:
- Must be at least 21 years of age
- Must carry valid photo identification
- Must present a valid concealed carry permit when requested by law enforcement
- Must not have had a permit previously revoked
The agreement applies specifically to handguns.
This move represents a step forward for lawful gun owners and ensures that responsible Virginians traveling to Pennsylvania are now equally protected under the law. It also underscores the continued efforts by pro-2A officials to expand lawful carry rights across state lines.
At USACarry.com, our Concealed Carry Reciprocity Maps have already been updated to reflect this change. These maps are essential tools for staying informed on where your permit is honored, helping concealed carriers remain compliant and confident as they travel.
While Virginia had long done its part in respecting out-of-state permits, Pennsylvania’s decision to reciprocate ensures a more balanced and fair treatment of lawful concealed carriers. This agreement is a welcome correction to a previously lopsided arrangement and a strong win for Second Amendment rights.
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