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Board rejects countywide open-carry prohibition for county buildings
Summary
After staff described state law changes that allow counties to prohibit open carry on government property, the board debated personnel-policy alignment and potential legal challenges and voted 0–5 against a resolution to ban open carry on county property.
The Laramie County Board of Commissioners voted down a resolution to prohibit open carry in county buildings and county facilities on July 15.
County Attorney Mark Voss outlined recent state law changes affecting concealed and open carry and said the new statute "return[ed] to municipalities and counties and should they so wish the ability to prohibit open carry in and on governmental property." The resolution before the board would have prohibited open carry on county property effective July 15, 2025.
Commissioner Thompson said he opposed the prohibition while supporting concealed carry and called for any open-carry restrictions to be reflected in personnel policy rather than a countywide ban: "I don't see a good reason to prohibit open carry," he said. Commissioner Hollingshead said the policy would cause "undue angst" when staff approaches people and said such a restriction would likely be legally challenged.
After brief discussion, the roll-call vote recorded five "no" votes and the resolution failed.
The board did not adopt any alternative policy at the meeting and moved on to other agenda items.
