Wyoming schools and local governments will retain control over who can — and can’t — carry concealed weapons onto their premises.
That’s after Gov. Mark Gordon rejected legislation Friday night that would have done away with most gun-free zones in Wyoming and would have allowed people with concealed carry permits to bring firearms into most public spaces overseen by the state.
After announcing he’d signed four other “Second-Amendment friendly” bills and touting his support for firearms in Wyoming, Gordon said in his veto letter to the secretary of state that House Bill 125 – Repeal gun free zones and preemption amendments “erodes historic local control norms by giving sole authority to the Legislature to micromanage a constitutionally protected right.”
“Any further clarification of the law, if this bill were enacted, would augment the Legislature’s reach into local firearms regulation,” Gordon added. “The bill exceeds the separation of powers embodied in Article 2 of our Wyoming Constitution. I must, therefore, veto it.”
The move maintains the status quo in Wyoming, but sparked anger from the far right, which has grown increasingly more combative and critical of the more moderate governor.
The hard-line Wyoming Freedom Caucus stated it “condemns” Gordon’s “anti-Second Amendment stance,” before making an apparent reference to a survey that Wyoming Gun Owners has been posting about online in recent weeks. The survey, which the group says Gordon signed as a gubernatorial candidate in 2018, includes a checked “yes” box next to a question of whether he’d repeal gun-free zones.
The caucus went on to talk about the right to bear arms, saying “it shall not be infringed.”
“Instead of utilizing sound legal principles, the Governor parrots laughable, confusing arguments apparently crafted for him by those who have no understanding of God-given rights,” the caucus said. “We know that this right comes from our Creator, not from the government, and that government (no matter how ‘local’) cannot take away something that it cannot grant. Government exists to protect your inalienable rights, not negotiate the terms under which they will be surrendered.”
Even so, organizations like the Wyoming Education Association, which fought against HB 125, rejoiced. President Grady Hutcherson wrote in a statement that the association was “thrilled” and “so very relieved.”
“Our members expressed grave concerns about the danger it would pose to students to legalize the concealed carry of deadly firearms in our public schools,” he said. “Guns have no place in Wyoming schools. Period.”
“Students and education employees deserve to be safe at school and they deserve to feel safe at school,” he added. “Killing this misguided bill prioritizes student safety over extremist politicking and thousands of educators and parents will rest easier tonight knowing that House Bill 125 can no longer threaten their sense of safety and security at school.”
What didn’t happen
House Bill 125 would have drastically changed the firearm landscape in Wyoming, eliminating state, county and town governments’ ability to regulate or ban concealed firearms.
Under the bill, people would have been able to conceal carry in local government meetings, at the Capitol and in schools (elementary or secondary school students excluded).
This ban on gun-free zones wouldn’t have applied to private property, federal property, athletic events where alcohol is being sold, and areas where “explosive or volatile materials are present.”
While it didn’t exempt places like courthouses and police stations, a clause in the bill said the legislation shouldn’t be interpreted to “[a]llow the carrying of a concealed weapon into facilities where otherwise prohibited by law.”
Because the Legislature has ended its session, lawmakers no longer have the ability to override Gordon’s veto unless they convene at a special session. The Wyoming Freedom Caucus on Saturday morning demanded legislative leadership pursue a special session for that purpose.
The history
Bills like HB 125 have come up before in the Wyoming Legislature.
In 2017, then-Gov. Matt Mead called similar legislation to allow concealed carry into government meetings “murky” and vetoed the measure.
And just last year, a bill to eliminate gun-free zones in government buildings and meetings only made it through a Senate committee before dying.
But the Wyoming Legislature has moved increasingly to the right in recent years, buoying the latest attempt. At the beginning of this year’s budget session, HB 125 passed a floor vote in the House with only seven representatives — including the chamber’s five Democrats — voting no.
Still, there were several efforts to amend it from both Republicans and Democrats in that chamber — including to give more power back to schools. Most of these efforts failed.
When the bill advanced to the upper chamber, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted it down 3-2. Sen. Bill Landen (R-Casper) cast the deciding vote against it. He recalled being present at Casper College when a murder-suicide took place more than a decade ago, during which he said having a gun wouldn’t have made a difference.
However, Sen. Dave Kinskey (R-Sheridan) brought the bill back to life on the Senate floor, garnering just enough votes — by one — to override the Senate Judiciary Committee, the Senate Rules Committee and Senate President Ogden Driskill (R-Devils Tower). Driskill said at the time the tactics amounted to “idiocy” and were “sad.”
Again, there were proposed amendments to restore some local control to places like schools and colleges. And again, those attempts failed.
“I’m very concerned that any amendment in the conference committee effectively kills this bill,” Kinskey said at the time. “I would ask that you resist any amendment.”
Throughout the process, proponents argued the legislation would make public spaces safer by allowing good guys with guns to be in places where bad guys with guns could wreak havoc.
At the same time, several organizations — like the Wyoming Education Association and Wyoming Association of Municipalities — and at least one lawmaker who’s received death threats reiterated concerns about allowing someone to walk into emotionally charged governmental meetings or elementary schools packing heat.
This story was updated with a response from the Freedom Caucus at 10:15 a.m., March 23. – Ed
Not a advocate of any concealed weapons in this era
Not many responsible individuals in this era
Many appear lost and don’t know who actually supports them in their lives
and lack of trust exists
Seen fr teens on
Not a good time for guns
Maybe in the 70s- 80s
All you libs are going to WISH someone had a firearm to defend others when an attack at UW occurs. You are leaving all on our campuses vulnerable and at risk. And it was a deceitful move to wait to veto until your veto could be overridden! SHAME ON YOU GORDON! Worse than a democrat — a traitor.
I will forego expressing any personal opinions on the arguments presented below, but I thought that some of you would find the following federal law relevant, educational, and interesting:
https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?f=treesort&fq=true&hl=true&num=5&req=militia
I would love to see when the event occurs when a private citizen occurs in a place that prohibits concealed carry by private citizens, anyone who was endangered should sue the place that prevented said citizen from his constitutional right to protect himself, and not providing such protection for the injured.
I have lived in Wyoming all my life and I’m not about to leave, as suggested by these extremists and newbies that are trying to turn out state into a gun free for all. Further, I’m going to resist your agenda every step of the way. Wyoming likely has more guns per person than any state, but we have never found it necessary to strut around our community fully armed. We used to be civil to each other until idiots crawled out of the wood work creating verbal chaos.
While I think more things needed Grodon’s veto and he vetoed some things for the wrong reasons (in my opinion), I’m glad he didn’t rubber stamp some of the craziness that came out of this Legislature. And from the arguments that the Freedom Caucus gives on this topic specifically – one could just say the intent behind it violates the separation of church and state. As soon as any group brings “God” into a conversation about state laws they lose all credibility to me.
Where the heck are those ‘ well regulated militias ‘ , the ones (quoting the 2A ) “being necessary to the security of a free State” ? I’ve been searching for years. Still no sign of them .
It can’t be Joe Glock or Arnold AR-15 , or the plump peroxide blonde lady with the pistol in her pink purse. Surely you jest …
Laws to create first, second, fourth, fifth , and fourteenth amendment free zones are becoming more frequent . You just can’t let the constitution run wild.
I really am at a loss to understand the kindergarten comic book idea that, allowing “good guys to be in places where bad guys with guns wreak havoc.” Who decides who the good guys are, as opposed to bad guys. As a gun owner and supporter of the 2nd amendment, I support a ban on guns where the work of our government agencies is being conducted and in the schools. Either we respect the rule of law or we have gangs and bullies running society. As a member of the local gun club and the NRA, I was never asked about guns in public places.
A reasoned and most welcomed statement. And as a gun owner and advocate for the 2nd amendment, I couldn’t agree more. We cannot allow the inmates to run the asylum. Kudos Governor for seeing through the far right bluster and having the courage to stand up for public safety.
Did you really have to use “shoots down” in the headline? C’mon WyoFile – the whole point of this is guns – and what they can do to hurt and/or intimidate – are very serious business. Let’s not be trite.
Reply to Shawn Smith. I can explain the reason that the Freedom Caucus and many others believe it is a god given right. Most people equate the bill of rights as a statement of rights that should not be infringed by the government. Or put another way, they are inalienable rights.
The Second Amendment, as you claim, does not specify the particular arm that people can carry or where they can carry it. That is the point, the Second Amendment says the government shall not infringe the right to bear arms. And, Every state in the union has incorporated the US Constitution as part the state.
Perhaps the better way to describe the Second Amendment is a right to self defense. EVERY state in the union recognizes the right of self defense as an affirmative right. If you harm or even kill someone defending yourself from an attack, then you can claim the right of self defense. And this is not only recognized for individuals, but for governments as well.
From the UN Charter, Article 51.
“Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defense if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations, until the Security Council has taken measures necessary to maintain international peace and security. Measures taken by Members in the exercise of this right of self-defense shall be immediately reported to the Security Council and shall not in any way affect the authority and responsibility of the Security Council under the present Charter to take at any time such action as it deems necessary in order to maintain or restore international peace and security.”
Now, I am not a lawyer, but I am thinking the right of self defense is pretty darn important. If you were a teacher in Cokeville, May 1986, you might examine the ban on guns in schools differently than most commenting in this forum.
Nor am I a theologian practiced in many of the planets religions. But to give a decent answer to why man invented guns and gunpowder instead of God, you merely need to look at the concept of “Free Will”.
Shawn, contemplate this image, read the caption.
https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/news-photo/the-words-of-robert-oppenheimer-an-inventor-of-the-atomic-news-photo
Sorry for the long URL. But this is the ultimate weapon that both delivered Mutually Assured Destruction and Mutually Assured Defense, for counties that posses the weapon. The creator of that weapon was not quoting a Christian god but rather the Bhagavad-Gita. Is it to gods to create weapons or is man carrying out actions through god?
Shawn, I hope the above will add clarity to your questions. perhaps even help you in your own learning on the subject of self defense and the second amendment.
To the others commenting… you are not winning your arguments with calling people morons, dumb, carpetbaggers, inane and far worse… supremacists, racist, criminals. And someone who holds views to the right of you… does not mean “Far” right, radical right, etc.. Try to present opinions that do not reflect more on yourself, than the people you disagree with. That isn’t an insult or a threat, just keeping it clean, civil and on the topic.
I cannot thank Governor Gordon enough for making the right decision in his veto of this legislation. I e-mailed Governor Gordon multiple times asking that he do the right thing, vetoing this bill for the safety of the public, particularly in our schools, colleges universities and public buildings. This isn’t a matter of second amendment rights, it’s a matter of local control and public safety. I hope all the Wyoming Freedumb Caucus carpetbaggers currently serving in the legislature take notice. The true Republicans, Democrats, Independents and real Wyoming residents have had enough of the radical right-wing extremists in the Wyoming Freedumb Caucus. And we vote! Start packing your bags carpetbaggers!
The Second Amendment was added to the Constitution in 1791 because the young United States did not yet have a professionally trained, full-time standing military. The Continental Army was comprised of state militias and individuals who were required to report for duty with their own rifles and in some instances provide their own ammunition. The Second Amendment does not state that everyone should own any gun they want or be able to bring it anywhere they want.
Can someone please explain to me why these Freedom Caucus morons believe this is a god given right? If it is, why didn’t god invent gun powder and firearms?
Well dang it. I thought maybe we had a good governor. Now I am thinking maybe it is time to replace him. I mean yah, I was really hoping he would sign this bill, but as the days counted by I started to assume he would veto it. Huge disappointment.
Really Mr. Matteson? You think it’s time to replace Governor Gordon? Well guess what? He’s term-limited. If you don’t understand that concept, I can explain it to you. Or maybe you ditched civics class if you went to school!
Governor Gordon made the right call on HB0125. It took courage. Thank you.
So the Freedom Caucus believes God wrote the constitution. I am sure that many of the signers did a lot of praying as they contemplated their decisions- but I believe that human beings created the constitution.
I am so upset by the misguided officials that have been elected that I may have to do what I have sworn I never would. Change to an R to help vote them out of office.
Please do. I did.You don’t have a voice as a Democrat.
“Instead of utilizing sound legal principles, the Governor parrots laughable, confusing arguments apparently crafted for him by those who have no understanding of God-give rights,” the caucus said. “We know that this right comes from our Creator, not from the government”.
So when did YOUR god create firearms? Why does the freedumb caucus always defend the right to bear arms but fail to recognize freedom from religion?
Somehow, a bit of common sense sneaks into out state’s leadership every once in a while.
The right to bear arms is not unlimited, and does not preclude the existence of long-standing prohibitions, such as those forbidding “the possession of firearms by felons and the mentally ill” or restrictions on “the carrying of dangerous and unusual weapons”.
What support of a “well regulated militia” does taking a firearm into a school or open government meeting provide? A well regulated militia must have, as a minimum, a book of order, and recognized leadership with the specific responsibility to train all below him of expected discipline, and the use, care, and even restriction of weaponry. These can be quite detailed. For instance:
https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Revolutionary_War_Drill_Manual
As a minimum, a leader of a well regulated militia has control over those below him, and has well-defined expectations OF that militia. If there is no leadership as defined above, there is zero regulation, much less “well regulation”.
Governor Gordon made the correct call. Prior to his decision I sent him an email reminding him that having a right to do something does not make it a good idea. There are dozens of exception to our constitutional rights and our lives are just fine. I am still stunned that there are those in my state that feel that have a genuine need to carry concealed weapons into schools. The suggestion that they would be able to take a school shooter out is factually a statistically inane.
The governor dug himself a hole with his convoluted and nonsensical legal argument. The separation of powers argument is a real headscratcher, there are thousands of statutes which limit what local governments can and cannot do. It is also impossible to violate the constitution by enacting a statute which bolsters rather than infringes upon a constitutional provision, unless the new statute violates an existing constitutional provision. The governor would have been far better advised to simply veto it under the justification that he didn’t like it, which is exactly why he did. He went through a similarly bizarre process justifying his veto of SF 54 which would have given everyone a property tax exemption of 25% up to $2,000,000.00 in assessed valuation. On the other hand he was more than willing to sign HB 3 which gave folks over 65 who have paid taxes for 25 years a 50% exemption. It did not escape my attention that he is apparently over 65 years old. It was interesting that he along with Speaker Albert Sommers claim to frown upon the wealthy not paying their fair share, yet the only meaningful tax relief bill that crossed the finish line will benefit both of them it would appear. You don’t need keen olfactory senses to quickly deduce that one stinks to the high heavens.
Mark Gordon made the right call. It’s always a relief when a Wyoming official makes the proper call. With maga extremists so prevalent, these common sense decisions are less frequent.
Thank God, and Gov Gordon.
And, if the legislature is the voice of the people, then we should have legalized marijuana, extended Medicare coverage, and the right to an abortion.
You probably should move to California and get those evil liberal ideas out of Wyoming.
I have lived in 12 states in my lifetime, as diverse as MO, KY – and CA. I identify as “American” not “Wyomingite”. Since your narrow mind does not seem to believe in different opinions exisiting in our country, perhaps you would be happier in Russia, China or Hungary. A reminder – the Democrats won the national popular vote in the last 4 elections (The Big Lie is 0-70 in the courts).
Sad deal indeed. People spoke thru their elected officials.
The Wyoming legislature would like to control everything about YOUR personal life. They want to take control of every situation that we will allow. A bunch of hypocrites. Vote these people out of office.
I am thrilled that there is a voice of reason in the Wyoming government. Thank you Governor Gordon
i don’t see mention of hospitals retaining right to not allow firearms and knives into these facillities. as a now-retired nurse of almost 40 years, i do remember a time when there were shootings in emergency departments. our hospital developed protocols and plexiglass barriers.
anyone know the answer?
I believe hospitals and medical facilities were excluded in the original bill.
Private hospitals would have the right to ban firearms but county hospitals would have been forced to allow firearms in the facility. The idea of having guns in an emergency room is absurd – this bill was never about public safety and security but about the extremism of the gun lobby.
Gordon has proved himself a liar once again. The guy is a joke and Wyoming will be better off when he’s out of office.
I am in strong agreement with you. And I don’t believe the commentors patting Governor Gorden’s back even live in Wyoming.
I am a Second Amendment guy and believe it was written to prevent overreach by our governmental bodies, but the #2A was not meant as a guns everywhere, all the time right. Clearly the #2A purists are not going to miss out on their overthrow of the government if they have to leave their gun in the car while they go into the post office. It is a ridiculous argument to make but one that is getting made more and more because of the decline in the quality of our Legislators with the Dobbs ruling and the lack of clear guidance on weapons from the tainted SCOTUS.
When the Wyoming electorate chooses to send people to Cheyenne that care more about de-regulating guns while advocating to manage wombs, the people will end up with Legislators that cannot effectively run this State. It is Idiocracy in real time.
It is my belief that managing wombs is an overreach by the State Legislature in violation of our Constitutional rights.
Woo Hoo! Thank you Governor Gordon!