Since this legislative session began at least 11 people have been shot in Wyoming. None of these shootings have been between strangers and zero have been in gun free zones.”

Beth Howard, Cheyenne, Wyo.

Dear Editor, 

HB 172 - Repeal Gun Free Zones poses a real threat to children and adults, as the existing Wyoming Concealed Carry permit is woefully inadequate. It does not protect Wyoming citizens from people who have been adjudicated and involuntarily committed to a mental health institution. Those individuals are prohibited by federal law from owning a firearm. Wyoming is one of only a few states that seals its mental health records and does not report adjudicated involuntary commitment data to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. This dangerous omission allows people who are prohibited by federal law from owning firearms to purchase them in Wyoming and to obtain a concealed carry permit, as a background check will not reveal the information. Before expanding any firearms law, this omission must be corrected to keep guns out of the hands of people who should not have them, to protect the safety of all Wyoming citizens.

Since this legislative session began at least 11 people have been shot in Wyoming. None of these shootings have been between strangers and zero have been in gun free zones. This is a startling statistic, and we should ALL be alarmed. It is often said, “It’s not a gun problem. It’s a mental health problem.” Unfortunately, in Wyoming, it is BOTH. 

Let’s protect our already safe sensitive areas and keep them that way by maintaining local control, while entrusting safety to teachers, administrators, public officials and law enforcement officers who already do an excellent job. Firearms do NOT belong in sensitive areas, such as schools, public meetings and government buildings. There are many ways to better protect Wyoming citizens, but this bill is not one of them.

Please, tell your Senator to vote NO on House Bill 172.

For further information, please refer to Madelyn Beck’s well researched WyoFile article from April 29, 2024 titled “The Giant Mental Health Loophole in Wyoming’s Gun Regulations”: https://wyofile.com/the-giant-mental-health-loophole-in-wyomings-gun-regulations/

Sincerely, 

Beth Howard, 

Cheyenne, Wyo.