CHEYENNE – A House committee on Tuesday signed off on two proposals that would loosen Wyoming gun laws.
Under one bill approved by the House Judiciary Committee, a permit would no longer be required to carry a concealed weapon in Wyoming. A second bill, which committee members passed unanimously, asserts that firearms made, sold and kept in Wyoming are exempt from federal gun control regulations.
Under House Bill 113, anyone who meets the current requirements to obtain a concealed-weapons permit from the state would be allowed to carry concealed weapons – except that proof of firearms training would no longer be required.
The House Judiciary Committee voted 6-2 to recommend approval of the bill after a testimony by spokesmen from pro-gun groups and other supporters. If the bill passes, Wyoming would become only the third state in the nation, after Vermont and Alaska, to allow conceal-carry without a permit.
Sponsor Rep. Elaine Quarberg, R-Thermopolis, says she believes the state and federal constitutions spell out that Wyoming residents have the right to carry concealed guns without needing government permission.
Rep. Joe Barbuto, D-Rock Springs, voted against the bill.
“I’m a strong supporter of Second Amendment rights,” Barbuto said. “I don’t think anybody around this table could accuse me of being a bleeding-heart liberal.”
However, Barbuto said he’s happy with the current permit system, which has law enforcement review permit applications.
“I don’t think we need to take away that accountability,” Barbuto said.
Rep. John Patton, R-Sheridan, cast the other vote against the bill. He said that despite being a gun owner himself, he didn’t see how passing the bill would help with the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness in the state.
Anthony R. Bouchard, spokesman for the Wyoming Gun Owners Association, told the committee he wants to see the conceal-carry bill move forward.
Bouchard said his group sees no need to require training for Wyoming citizens who would carry concealed guns. A lot of people in the state are ranchers who grew up with guns and handle them daily, he said.
States that have gun control have “50,000 gang-bangers walking around carrying guns,” Bouchard said.
The committee voted to specify that people who are mentally incompetent or who have been committed to mental institutions wouldn’t be allowed to carry concealed guns.
The second bill, the Wyoming Firearms Freedom Act, is similar to legislation passed in Montana and Tennessee and introduced in 14 other states asserting that firearms that are made in the states and never leave the states are exempt from federal law. Gun advocates in Montana have filed suit against the federal government to test the law.
Under the legislation, any federal or state official who tries to enforce a federal gun law upon a Wyoming-made firearm could serve up to a year in prison and pay a $2,000 fine.
The bill specifies that Wyoming-made firearms can’t be bought or owned by convicted felons, people judged legally incompetent, or those who have been committed to mental institutions. The legislation also prevents people under 21 from buying Wyoming-made firearms.
If passed, the effect of the Wyoming Firearms Freedom Act would mostly be symbolic, as Wyoming’s gun manufacturing industry is limited to a handful of small companies.
Gov. Dave Freudenthal told reporters on Tuesday that he is “not uncomfortable” with the proposed Firearms Freedom Act. However, he said he had “mixed” feelings about allowing conceal-carry without a permit.
“If it gets to me, I’ll sure take a look at it,” Freudenthal said of the conceal-carry bill.
Absolutely brilliant!!!
AZ - Similar story there: https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=46336&highlight=vermont+carry
