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Open Carrying/Exposed Firearms
Wyoming prohibits the carrying of a dangerous weapon in the State Capitol building or in any buildings under the jurisdiction of the State Building Commission. 006-041-006 Wyo. Code R. § 2(a).
Wyoming prohibits the possession of any fully automatic weapon in the game fields or forests of Wyoming. Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 23-3-112(a).
Transportation of Firearms
Please see the Location Limits sub-section below.
Concealed Weapons Licensing Requirements
Wyoming is a "may issue" state, meaning that local law enforcement has discretion in determining whether or not to issue a concealed weapons permit to an applicant. In Mecikalski v. Office of Att'y Gen., 2 P.3d 1039, 1046-47 (Wyo. 2000), the Supreme Court of Wyoming held that a local sheriff and chief of police correctly denied plaintiff's application for a permit pursuant to Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-8-104(g), when those officials deemed plaintiff a danger to the community at large. Plaintiff had met all qualifying criteria for a concealed firearm permit under section 6-8-104. The court found that section 6-8-104(g) and the legislative intent behind it clearly allow local law enforcement to use their discretion when issuing firearms permits. Mecikalski, 2 P.3d at 1046-47.
Pursuant to section 6-8-104(b), the Wyoming Attorney General is authorized to issue a permit to carry a concealed firearm if the applicant:
Is a resident of the United States; Has been a resident of Wyoming for at least six
months (this requirement does not apply to any person holding a
valid concealed firearm permit: 1) issued in another state that
recognizes Wyoming permits; 2) that is valid statewide; and 3)
that is from a state with laws similar to Wyoming’s concealed
firearms permit provisions); Is at least 21 years of age (or at least 18 years
of age if the local sheriff makes a personal recommendation on
the applicant’s behalf, per
§ 6-8-104(j)); Is not prohibited by federal or state law from possessing a firearm (see 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) and Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-8-102; also see the Wyoming Background Checks section); Does not suffer from a physical infirmity that
would prevent the safe handling of a firearm; Has not been committed to a state or federal
facility for the abuse of a controlled substance, or convicted of
certain state or federal crimes relating to controlled
substances; Does not chronically or habitually use alcoholic liquor or malt beverages to the extent that his or her normal faculties are impaired, and has not been involuntarily committed to any residential facility as a result of the use of alcohol; Demonstrates familiarity with a firearm by past
experience or through the completion of certain safety or
training courses; Is not currently adjudicated to be legally
incompetent; and Has not been committed to a mental institution.
A permit may
also be denied or revoked if the applicant has been found guilty
of, or has pled no contest to, one or more misdemeanor crimes of
violence within the last three years. Section 6-8-104(c).
The sheriff of the applicant’s county of residence is required to submit a written report to the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation ("Division") containing any information pertinent to the issuance of the permit. Section 6-8-104(g). The report shall state any facts "which establish reasonable grounds to believe that the applicant has been or is reasonably likely to be a danger to himself or others, or to the community at large as a result of the applicant's mental or psychological state, as demonstrated by a past pattern or practice of behavior, or participation in incidents involving a controlled substance, alcohol abuse, violence or threats of violence as these incidents relate to criteria" listed in section 6-8-104. Id.
Applicants must pay a nonrefundable fee of $50 for processing of the permit application. Section 6-8-104(e)(ii). The actual cost of processing fingerprints must also be paid by the applicant. Section 6-8-104(e)(iii).
Any individual who carries or wears a concealed firearm without a valid permit is criminally liable for a misdemeanor. Section 6-8-104(a).
Additional application and background check requirements, as well as permit suspension or disqualification information, are detailed under section 6-8-104 of the Wyoming Statutes, and 015-041-001 Wyo. Code R. § 1 through 015-041-005 Wyo. Code R. § 3 of the Wyoming Rules.
Disclosure or Use of Information
Any list or other record maintained by the Division or other law enforcement agency under section 6-8-104 that identifies an individual applicant or permittee is not considered a public record. Section 6-8-104(bb). Applications, listings and other records maintained pursuant to section 6-8-104 that identify an individual shall be made available to other law enforcement agencies for purposes of conducting official business. Id.
The Division is required to maintain an automated
listing of permit holders and other pertinent information, and
must make this information available on-line, upon request, at
all times to all Wyoming law enforcement agencies. Section 6-8-104(n).
Under section 6-8-104(g), the sheriff of the applicant’s county of residence must notify the chief of police, if any, of the applicant’s place of residence about any application for a concealed firearm permit, and the chief of police must submit written comments to the Division under the guidelines prescribed in section 6-8-104(g). Any submitted comments shall not be considered a public record. Id.
The Division is required, by March 1 of each year, to submit a statistical report to the Governor and to the "joint judiciary interim committee" indicating the number of permits issued, revoked, suspended and denied in the past year. Section 6-8-104(z). This report is considered a public record. Section 6-8-104(bb).
Certified child care facilities must provide parents with information regarding the presence of weapons on the premises. 049-185-006 Wyo. Code R. § 2(c)(v).
Duration & Renewal
A Wyoming concealed firearm permit is valid for five years. Section 6-8-104(b). A permittee may renew the permit on or prior to the expiration date by filing with the sheriff of the permittee’s county of residence a renewal form, a notarized affidavit stating that the permittee remains qualified pursuant to the criteria specified in section 6-8-104, and a nonrefundable renewal fee of $50. Section 6-8-104(e)(ii), (s). A permittee who fails to file a renewal application on or before its expiration date must pay an additional $10 late fee. Section 6-8-104(s). A permit shall not be renewed after six months following its expiration date, and will be deemed permanently expired. Id. Additional information regarding permit renewal is detailed at 015-041-003 Wyo. Code R. § 8.
Location Limits
Pursuant to section 6-8-104(t), a valid concealed firearm permit holder from Wyoming or any other jurisdiction shall not carry a concealed firearm into any:
Facility used primarily for law enforcement operations or administration without the written consent of the chief administrator; Detention facility, prison or jail; Courtroom, except that nothing shall preclude a judge from carrying a concealed weapon or determining who will carry a concealed weapon in the courtroom; Meeting of a governmental entity; Meeting of the legislature or a legislative committee; School, college or professional athletic event not related to firearms; Portion of an establishment licensed to dispense alcoholic liquor and malt beverages for consumption on the premises, which portion of the establishment is primarily devoted to that purpose; Place where persons are assembled for public worship, without the written consent of the chief administrator of that place; Elementary or secondary school facility; College or university facility without the written consent of the security service of the college or university; or Location where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by federal or state law.
Wyoming also prohibits concealed firearms permit holders from carrying in the State Capitol building or in any buildings under the jurisdiction of the State Building Commission. 006-041-006 Wyo. Code R. § 2(a).
Reciprocity
Wyoming law
allows any non-resident to carry a concealed firearm in Wyoming,
provided that person holds a concealed firearm permit issued by a
governmental agency or entity in his or her home state that is
valid throughout that state. Section 6-8-104(a)(iii). The home state must have laws
similar to the provisions of section 6-8-104 as determined by the Wyoming Attorney General, including a proper background check of
the permit holder, and the home state must recognize Wyoming
concealed firearms permits. Id.
Brady Exemption
Concealed firearms permit holders in Wyoming are exempt from background checks when purchasing a firearm, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) chart that outlines those permits that qualify as alternatives to the federal Brady Act. Please note that ATF’s exempt status determination is subject to change without notice. For further information, see the Wyoming Background Checks section.
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