Laramie County School District 1 receives petition on Wyoming 'repeal gun-free zones' law; board outlines policy timeline

The Laramie County School District #1 Board of Trustees received a citizen petition asking the board to implement Wyoming Statute 6-8-105, the state law that repealed school gun-free zones, and to consider adopting a model policy titled “Firearms and Concealed Carry — School Property.” Patricia McCoy, who identified herself as a qualified elector in the district, handed the petition to staff during the meeting and asked that the board place the topic on a future agenda for public review and comment.

The petitioners asked the board to adopt their draft policy, to allow public comment on any draft versions, and to consult alternatives to the Wyoming School Boards Association model. "This petition is presented under Wyoming statute 21-3-110 ... the board shall consider every petition presented by at least 5 citizens of the school district and take action within 30 days," McCoy said during her three-minute comment.

Superintendent Dr. Newton told trustees the district is already working to implement the statute and to clarify its limits. "This is a statute that allows the public who have, concealed carry permits to carry on school grounds. Then the statute specifically prohibits students who are enrolled in school from carrying," Dr. Newton said, adding the district will follow the required policy process. He said safety and security staff met with local law enforcement the same day to gather input and that the policy will move through the district's advisory and review steps, including a 45-day public review period.

The superintendent gave a timeline: staff will draft policy language, submit it for advisory review and public comment, and — resources and steps permitting — aim for a final adoption at the board's June 16 meeting. He characterized the process as: consultation with law enforcement, policy advisory review, 45-day public review, and then board consideration.

Public speakers at the meeting urged caution and specific safeguards. Dylan Ford, identified in the meeting as president of the Cheyenne Teachers Association (CTA), said staff and students are concerned about an unsafe rollout and asked trustees to include safeguards and training. "Just please make sure that there are safeguards in place, that ensures that our rollout doesn't put students or staff in harm's way," Ford said.

Board members did not take a formal vote on the petition during the meeting. Instead, the record shows the petition was submitted to district staff and that the superintendent outlined the procedural steps the district will follow to draft and consider a local policy consistent with state law.

Why it matters: The statute and the board's implementing policy will determine whether and how district employees with permits may carry on school property, what training or storage conditions apply, and how the district coordinates with local law enforcement. The policy process will include additional opportunities for public comment and a formal adoption vote by trustees.

What remains unresolved: The board did not adopt any policy at the meeting. Specific components that the petitioners asked for (for example, details on training standards, storage, reporting or disciplinary protocols) will be addressed in the draft policy and during the public review period, according to the superintendent.

Provenance: The petition presentation and statutory citation were made during public comment (meeting transcript timestamp beginning approximately 2868.78). Superintendent Dr. Newton's statutory clarifications and timeline appear later in the meeting (transcript timestamp beginning approximately 3863.69).