Wyoming —Cheyenne Wyoming Republican Gov. Mark Gordon vetoed a bill allowing concealed carry in schools and government gatherings. Gordon wrote in his veto letter Friday night that the bill would violate the state constitution's separation of powers since the Legislature may only make policy, regulation, or law clarification.
It would have required the University of Wyoming, Wyoming State Hospital, and Wyoming Boys' School to get legislative approval to ban weapons.
The bill “erodes historic local control norms by giving sole authority to the Legislature to micromanage a constitutionally protected right,” Gordon said. Any further clarification of the statute, if this bill passes, would expand the Legislature's jurisdiction over municipal guns legislation.
The bill would have restricted open carry in schools and government gatherings and banned guns for K-12 pupils. Guns would have been outlawed in jails, courts, police stations, hospitals, and private property if the owner wished.
A permit would have permitted concealed weapons in public schools, the University of Wyoming, and community colleges without alcohol. They might have attended Legislature meetings without a permit. Supporters claimed that banning guns in schools and meetings violates their Second Amendment rights.
Since Wyoming legalized school personnel carrying guns in 2017, a few districts have allowed it. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Alabama, Idaho, Indiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Utah allow concealed weapons in schools. Wyoming is a gun-friendly state, and the law cleared the Senate 22-8 after backers rejected concerns about permitting guns where they're banned.
Laramie's Chris Rothfuss, one of Wyoming's two Senate Democrats, opposed the plan, claiming he hadn't heard from teachers or kids. According to Republican theory, the closest government to the people governs best. Mike Gierau of Jackson, the chamber's other Democrat, voted against the bill after initially supporting it.
Gordon signed four gun-rights laws. One restricts credit card processors from utilizing firearms or firearm-related merchant category codes and prohibited firearm registries by the government or private groups.
The other bills prohibit Wyoming red flag gun laws, amend regulations to allow those with firearms rights restored to get concealed carry permits, and create an account to reimburse school districts for employee firearm possession costs. Gordon also directed state officials to consider concealed carry in the Capitol and other buildings.
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