Contradictory Gun Laws in Wyoming

This week, Wyoming’s Governor Mark Gordon made news by taking seemingly opposite stances on two gun rights laws that hit his desk. Let’s take a look at what these laws were and the logic behind the Wyoming governor’s decisions.

The Laws

Two laws hit Governor Gordon’s desk this week. Here’s a breakdown of their effects.

Senate Bill 109 – Signed Into Law

The first law requiring the governor’s signature this week was Senate Bill 109. This law made it illegal for Wyoming state authorities to “implement or enforce any federal [or state] statute, rule, executive order, or judicial findings that would enforce a red flag seizure order against or upon a resident of Wyoming.”

If a Wyoming law enforcement office breaks this law, they must pay a $50,000 fine. Courts may also award damages to victims of unlawful red flagging.

There’s one important caveat to this law. The person must legally be allowed to own a gun under state law for this new legislation to protect them.

This law is fairly similar to a law that Kansas passed earlier this month. However, Kansas’ bill prohibits the state from cooperating with Federal agents on any gun control measures. Wyoming’s bill simply bars these agencies from enforcing Federal red flag laws. Vice President Kamala Harris is currently establishing a Federal red flag office in Washington, DC.

House Bill 125 – Vetoed

The second bill that hit the governor’s desk this week was House Bill 125. This bill would have made it illegal for municipal governments to declare gun free zones in their jurisdiction. That would have made it legal to carry guns in schools, colleges, and in governmental buildings.

Governor Gordon decided to veto this bill – but not for reasons you might think. He’s stated that he’s not against gun-free zones in theory. However, he believes that if the state abolishes gun free zones, it’s essentially overriding the ability of municipal governments to regulate themselves.

In addition to vetoing the bill, Gordon said he’s going to initiate a process to allow concealed carry permit holders to bring their weapons onto state government property.

Final Thoughts

At first glance, the fact that Governor Gordon signed one of these bills and vetoed the other doesn’t make much sense. But after you hear the logic behind his decision, it makes more sense. While it may not be the best outcome from a gun rights perspective, at least Governor Gordon’s logic seems sound. What’s more, his statement about expanding rights for concealed carry holders gives gun owners in Wyoming plenty to celebrate.