Lawmakers failed to override Gov. Mark Gordon’s veto of controversial changes to a Wyoming gun law that restricts enforcement of federal gun orders.
The override of Senate File 101, “Second amendment protection act amendments,” failed Wednesday in a 12 to 18 Senate vote. The Senate needed 21 votes to override the governor’s veto. There was no further debate on the bill itself.
Gordon vetoed Tuesday amendments to Wyoming’s Second Amendment Protection Act that would have added a possible $50,000 penalty and civil option for challenging alleged violations of the law. The governor framed the changes to SAPA as a hindrance to the Trump administration’s enforcement initiatives on immigration, drug smuggling and human trafficking because it could limit cooperation with federal agencies.
Gordon also rejected a similar bill last year. The governor lamented in this year’s veto letter that the “litany of troubling language, problematic consequences, and irreconcilable issues” that he had pointed to in the 2025 legislation “were completely ignored by the legislators advancing this newest iteration and still stand today.”
Wyoming’s SAPA became law in 2022. The measure bars Wyoming from using state money or personnel to enforce any “unconstitutional” federal government directive that infringes on people’s right to bear arms. Public officers who violate this would face a misdemeanor. The law has not yet been used, law enforcement officials told lawmakers.
The law is not as stringent as some would like. “That legislation had a few gaps in it,” Senate President Bo Biteman, the Ranchester Republican who sponsored SF 101, said of Wyoming’s SAPA at a committee meeting this session. “We knew that when we passed it.”
As of early Wednesday afternoon, Biteman hadn’t responded to WyoFile’s request for comment regarding Gordon’s veto, the failed veto override and whether he plans to support similar legislation in the future.
Senate File 101 proposed adding a $50,000 civil penalty per violation against agencies, including agencies that hire officers who enforced federal firearms directives under previous federal employment. Those civil fines would add to existing criminal penalties for individual officers. The measure also specified that individuals, and not just the state, could pursue legal action for alleged SAPA violations.
Wyoming law enforcement strongly opposed SF 101. All 23 Wyoming sheriffs signed a letter to lawmakers cautioning that the measure would create legal ambiguity that could put officers and agencies at risk of litigation, while threatening federal partnerships and ultimately hampering efforts to address crime. In his veto message, Gordon linked to a letter from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Acting Director Todd Lyons that echoed those concerns.
Sheridan Chief of Police Travis Koltiska, the vice president of the Wyoming Association of Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police, an organization that testified against SF 101, told WyoFile on Wednesday that members are “very supportive of Gov. Gordon and his veto of this bill and of all the legislators today who chose not to override.” He also praised Gordon’s veto message, which shared information, he said, that was “very accurate about the potential ramifications that such legislation would have on local law enforcement’s ability to protect our communities.”
Koltiska said association members aimed to explain to lawmakers “how the legislation would impact our organizations, and how we figured it would impact public safety.” The group has done this in past sessions, but this year seemed to require more effort. “It was time consuming this year,” Koltiska said. “It seemed like it took quite a bit more testimony and attempts to educate.”
Those who supported SF 101, including Second Amendment advocacy groups like Wyoming Gun Owners and Gun Owners of America, argued the measure would protect citizens against a too-powerful federal government. They pointed to carveouts in the bill that they said would allow Wyoming law enforcement officers to work with federal partners to address crime, even when firearms are potentially involved.
In a Wednesday letter to lawmakers, Gun Owners of America National Director Mark Jones argued that Gordon’s veto message “relies on a fundamental misreading” of the bill’s text, which specifies that the restrictions only apply to federal orders “solely regarding firearms, accessories or ammunition against any law abiding citizen.”
Since cartel members, traffickers and people in the country without legal permission aren’t included in the bill’s definition of “law abiding citizen,” the measure “places zero restrictions on the ability of state and federal authorities to collaborate in their apprehension,” Jones argued.
“The opposition to this bill is rooted in a desire by federal agencies to maintain unfettered access to Wyoming’s local police power,” the letter states.
SF 101 put people on both sides of the issue in the awkward position of being viewed either as anti-Second Amendment, or anti-law enforcement.
“We will all unfortunately get branded as anti-Second Amendment,” Koltiska, the Sheridan police chief, told WyoFile. “We’re prepared for that. That’s not what we’re about. None of us are anti-Second Amendment. We just have a duty to our communities, and felt that this would negatively impact that duty.”
Meanwhile, SF 101 supporters pushed back on assertions that the measure was an “anti-law enforcement” bill.
Even with the failed veto override, the story is far from over. Jones, the Gun Owners of America national director, told WyoFile that his organization would “absolutely” help lawmakers bring the legislation to future sessions. “We will keep trying until the legislation becomes law,” he said in a text message.
While SF 101 failed, lawmakers pushed through two other gun laws this year. Gordon signed House Bill 96, “Carrying of concealed weapons-age requirement,” and House Bill 98, “Prohibit Red Flag Gun Seizure Act-penalty amendments,” into law on Saturday.
House Bill 96 lowers the legal age for acquiring a concealed carry permit from 21 to 18. House Bill 98 adds a misdemeanor penalty to Wyoming’s “Prohibit Red Flag Gun Seizure Act.” That measure banned red flag gun laws in Wyoming, which typically enable police and sometimes others to ask a judge to temporarily remove someone’s access to guns if they are believed to be a risk to themselves or others.
Both laws go into effect in July.
This story has been updated. For more legislative coverage, click here.
This action proves that Wyoming republican “leadership”/Governor are anti Second Amendment.
“Shall not be infringed”, 4 simple words that are completely disregarded by Governments large and small across the USA from coast to coast.
Why don’t we pay more attention to the first part of the 2A; “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State,”? Just asking.
I completely agree, the Standing Army the USA has had for far too long should be dissolved back into organized State militias.
Give the citizenry the arms of the dissolved Standing Army. Organize and train for a common defense. It’s the Duty of the people and no nation would dare invade our lands.
This was the dumbest bill in this year’s session, and it had a lot of competition.
We really need to get rid of the Freedom Caucus in the legislature.
Thinking and comments like this regarding this specific topic, is what will probably ensure the “Freedom Caucus” is going nowhere.
People in Wyoming arent going to move towards the anti-Second Amendment side of the aisle. In fact they will probably accept more radically right candidates to ensure protecting it.
The 2nd amendment has virtually zero restrictions in the modern-day USA, and while the idea of “common sense” regulations is anathema to the so-called Freedom Caucus, it is apparent to the rest of us that performative, preening legislation such as this is a waste of time, and serves only to avoid addressing real issues in our state and country.