Senate Judiciary Committee hears testimony on HB 172 to remove gun-free zones, add carry exceptions for schools and state facilities

The Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony on House Bill 172 on HB 172, a bill that would repeal or narrow many of Wyoming's gun-free zones and clarify where people carrying concealed firearms under Wyoming permits may lawfully enter public buildings and educational facilities.

Representative Harrelson, the bill sponsor, told the committee HB 172 creates a new statutory section (6-8-105) that would allow persons lawfully carrying concealed weapons under Wyoming law to enter most meetings of government entities and many public buildings and educational facilities. "So before you guys is house bill 1 72," Harrelson said, "and what we'll do is we'll kind of walk through the couple different elements." He described three main educational categories covered by the bill: K-12 school facilities, college and university facilities, and public college or university athletic events where alcohol is not sold.

The bill also retains several carve-outs, Harrelson said: current statutory exclusions such as courtrooms and penitentiaries would remain, private property owners could still ban firearms on private premises, and federal facilities would not be affected. "Nowhere in this bill are we taking away private property rights," Harrelson said.

Why it matters: supporters argue HB 172 expands lawful self-defense options for staff and citizens and preserves decisions by local entities that have trained and armed staff; opponents say the bill would reduce local control and increase safety risks in schools, dorms and other campus spaces. The University of Wyoming, community colleges and the Department of Education urged careful, limited exceptions and noted local processes and campus-specific concerns. Mike Smith of the University of Wyoming said the bill's language that singles out a Wyoming permit derives from…