West Virginia

In Your State

West Virginia

West Virginia has had four mass shootings since 2020 and guns are the fourth leading cause of death of children. Lawmakers must do more to keep kids safe from gun violence. Learn more about what you can do to help in your state and community.

Take Action Now

Join us right now and urge your representatives to make West Virginia safer by passing Federal School Violence Prevention Laws.

West Virginia had the

21st

highest firearm death rate in the U.S. in 2021.

Gun fire was the

4th

leading cause of death for West Virginia children in 2021.

West Virginia had the

21st

highest firearm death rate in the U.S. in 2021.

Gun fire was the

4th

leading cause of death for West Virginia children in 2021.

Take Action Now

Join us right now and urge your representatives to make West Virginia safer by passing Federal School Violence Prevention Laws.

Increase School Violence Prevention

Our model legislation known as the Safety and Violence Education for Students Act (SAVE Students Act) makes lifesaving violence prevention training, like Sandy Hook Promise’s Know the Signs programs, available to all students in grades K-12.

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227

West Virginians died by suicide with a firearm in 2021.

mass shootings in 2023.

Gun Laws in West Virginia

Enhanced background checks

Restricts certain semi-automatic rifles

Secure storage

Temporary transfer

Our Impact in West Virginia

Throughout West Virginia, Sandy Hook Promise has engaged youth & adults in our mission and prevention programs.

8323

Supporters in the state

Volunteer Promise Leaders who help raise awareness & engage communities

50k

Trained students and adults in 138 schools to Know the Signs and prevent violence

299

Students involved in 8 SAVE Promise Clubs throughout the state

Prevent gun violence in West Virginia

You can help make West Virginia a safe place for kids and for your whole community. We urge the legislature to pass proven policy solutions, including emergency temporary transfer, secure storage, and closing the stranger-to-stranger loophole to prevent gun violence and tragedy. These policies keep the public safe from harm while protecting individual rights.

State Issue

Pass Temporary Transfer Laws

Everyone experiences temporary moments of crisis. When that crisis is combined with a firearm, the outcomes can be deadly. Temporary transfer supports gun owners in crisis while protecting their rights and gets them help before things turn tragic.

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State Issue

Close Dangerous Loopholes

A deadly loophole allows guns to be sold between a seller and a buyer who don’t know each other – and no background check is required. West Virginia can close this “stranger-to-stranger” loophole and expand background checks to prevent dangerous people from buying guns.

Take Action

State Issue

Pass Secure Storage Laws

Too often, children accidentally find firearms in their home. This can lead to the death of themselves and family members. Secure storage laws can prevent these tragedies and make it easier for gun owners to keep firearms away from their young sons and daughters.

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“We are proud to work with the bipartisan champions to ensure we're doing everything we can to protect our kids and that millions more students will be trained to know the signs of violence and act to save lives. Our work does not end here, we will continue to bring our prevention programs to schools and communities across the country and advocate for life-saving policies.”

Mark BardenSandy Hook Promise Co-Founder and Co-CEO