West Virginia announces CCW reciprocity with Louisiana

From the Mountain State:

Charleston, WV - Attorney General Darrell McGraw today announced a concealed weapons reciprocity agreement with the state of Louisiana. This is the latest in the ongoing efforts of Attorney General Darrell McGraw to negotiate agreements with states across the nation.

West Virginians with valid concealed weapons permits are now allowed to carry concealed weapons in a total of 23 states. West Virginia now has agreements with the following states: Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, and Virginia. The states of Alaska, Indiana, Montana, and Vermont formally recognize West Virginia’s concealed handgun license without an agreement. Idaho and Kansas have not formally acknowledged recognition but appear to do so.

“Negotiating agreements with other states will continue to be a priority of the Attorney General’s office and we are glad to have added Louisiana to the growing list of states that recognize West Virginia’s permits,”stated Attorney General Darrell McGraw. [emphasis added]

During the 2007 legislative session House Bill 3074 was passed and signed by Governor Manchin on March 9, 2007. The law then transferred authority from Governor Manchin to Attorney General Darrell McGraw to negotiate concealed weapon reciprocity agreements with other states. Prior to authority being transferred to the Attorney General, West Virginia had agreements with only Virginia and Kentucky. [emphasis added] ...

Press release here. Note the difference that having someone (in this case, the state's attorney general) who makes securing reciprocity agreements a priority can have in the number of reciprocal states -- WV went from 2 states to 23 in a year and a half.