Appropriations committee debates Second Amendment Protection Act amendments; law enforcement raises task‑force, liability and tribal‑jurisdiction concerns

The House Appropriations Committee heard extended testimony and questions on Senate File 196, an amendment package to Wyoming's Second Amendment Preservation Act (SAPA) that would prohibit state and local government entities from enforcing, or assisting in enforcement of, certain federal firearm regulations and would impose civil penalties on agencies that do so.

Senator Salazar, who brought the bill to the committee, told lawmakers the measure “prohibits Wyoming government entities from using state funds or resources to enforce federal firearm laws that violate Wyoming law” and that it seeks to “ensure that state resources are not used to enforce federal gun control measures that infringe on second amendment rights in Wyoming.” He and other supporters said the bill updates and strengthens the state SAPA law passed in 2022.

Aaron Doerr, testifying on behalf of Wyoming Gun Owners, described the bill as clarifying and strengthening the earlier law. He walked the committee through major changes in the draft: broadening the prohibition so federal task forces cannot circumvent state funding limits, removing the undefined phrase “unconstitutional” in favor of clearer language that bars enforcement of “any federal acts, laws, treaties, orders, rules, and regulations” on firearms,…