Board Adopts State-Mandated Firearms and Weapons Policies; Trustees Debate Enforcement and Outreach

The Laramie School District Board of Trustees adopted two district policies—Policy 50.50 (firearms on school property) and Policy 40.23 (weapons)—in response to state statutory changes. The policies received final approval on third and second readings respectively. District attorney/policy presenter Mr. Cowper explained that Policy 50.50 will create district-specific rules while the district previously operated only under the state’s minimum statutory requirements. He said the policy committee received public input during drafting; no substantive changes were made between recent readings. Trustees raised concerns about nonemployees carrying firearms onto school property. Mr. Cowper and other trustees said the district’s legal authority to regulate nonemployees is limited by statute. Mr. Cowper noted federal and state criminal statutes may be enforceable and suggested consulting legal counsel and local law enforcement for procedural and signage approaches. Trustees recommended the policy and governance committee continue work on practical measures—signage, appeals to responsible gun owners, and coordination with local law enforcement and school resource officers—rather than attempting to expand district regulatory authority beyond statutory limits. Trustee Murphy emphasized the volume of community feedback during the policy process and said the adopted district policy is intended to be a better alternative to the minimum state standard. Trustee Martin asked that committee work focus on practical responses for people entering school grounds who are not district employees. Policy 40.23 removed prior exceptions allowing students to possess certain unloaded firearms stored in locked vehicles and adjusted weapon-type definitions; trustees emphasized that district staff and students need clear communication about the changes to avoid inadvertent violations. Both policies were approved after motions to adopt were moved, seconded and passed; the board recorded no roll-call tallies in the open-session announcements.