Certain persons prohibited from possessing firearms

HB 3494 requires individuals convicted in West Virginia of specific crimes to formally acknowledge their firearm prohibition and transfer firearms at the time of sentencing. It directly affects people convicted of felonies (over one year imprisonment, under §61-7-7(a)(1)) or misdemeanor domestic violence assaults/batteries involving intimate partners, spouses, or household members (under §61-7-7(a)(8)). The bill mandates they sign a form confirming the prohibition and hand over firearms to someone legally allowed to possess them. This adds a new procedural step to existing firearm restrictions, focusing on immediate compliance at conviction. The bill is currently in the House Judiciary Committee for review.