Wyoming Legislature Approves Permitless Carry Bill

[DeadManWalking]

Wyoming Legislature Approves Permitless Carry Bill

Friday, February 25, 2011

Law-abiding Wyoming residents were big winners this week when both chambers the Wyoming Legislature overwhelmingly voted for a permitless/“constitutional” carry bill. When signed into law, Wyoming will become the fourth state to recognize permitless carry, joining Alaska, Arizona and Vermont. Similar bills are under consideration in other states across the country including Colorado, Idaho, Montana and Utah.

The concept of permitless carry, where law-abiding residents are allowed to a carry a concealed firearm without permits, has been gaining popularity across the country as more people realize that despite their best intentions, law enforcement cannot be there at the precise moment a crime occurs to prevent the attack. Furthermore, as state and local governments wrestle with massive budget shortfalls and are forced to lay off law enforcement and furlough prisoners, citizens realize that help will likely arrive later as the odds of a crime occurring increase. The NRA has also always believed that there should not be a tax associated with self-defense and the opportunity to carry a firearm for self-defense without having to obtain a costly permit, especially during these trying economic times, will be welcomed by many.

The lead sponsors of the Wyoming bill are state Senator Kit Jennings and Representative Allen Jaggi. The bill now goes to Governor Matt Mead’s desk for his consideration.

NRA-ILA :: Wyoming Legislature Approves Permitless Carry Bill

The forth step?

Constitutional Carry #4
Wyoming is apparently about to become the 4th state to adopt "constitutional carry" which allows anyone not otherwise prohibited from purchasing a gun in the first place to carry a gun concealed.

The bill has passed the legislature, and has been sent to the (Republican) governor. I'm guessing it will be signed.

Amusingly, during the debate phase, some representatives of the law enforcement community objected to it saying it would encourage dangerous people who couldn't pass a background check to begin carrying concealed firearms. Evidently in Wyoming, the felons are law-abiding enough as to refrain from carrying weapons without a permit. I knew the folks up there were a pretty hard-nosed bunch, but this exceeds my expectations.

Anyway, congratulations to the people of Wyoming. Colorado has such a bill in the legislature, but given the legislative makeup, I don't see it getting anywhere. Maybe next time.

http://billllsidlemind.blogspot.com/...l-carry-4.html

[AkSaber]

Originally Posted by DeadManWalking

Amusingly, during the debate phase, some representatives of the law enforcement community objected to it saying it would encourage dangerous people who couldn't pass a background check to begin carrying concealed firearms.

Yeah, a permit necessity would stop them.

Congrats Wyoming. Let's hope this is just the beginning.

[ace22]

i'm a long way from wyoming but i say kudos to their politicos for passing a law that will hopefully someday be nationwide

[kraigwy]

It's over, the governor signed the Constitutional Carry Law.

Governor Mead signed Constitutional Carry into law while saying his office had been clogged with emails and phone calls from people demanding he sign the Jennings-Jaggi Constitutional Carry bill.

Letters, e-mails and phone calls work, lets not let up folks.

[FTG-05]

OUTSTANDING!

Now, if we can get Idaho, CO and FL on board.

[GTbob]

Cool..... Now if we can get the Colorado house to pass it and the Governor Hick to sign it, we will have ours.

[Hoplophile]

Unfortunately, as I read it, it does not apply to non-residents visiting Wyoming unless their state qualifies for CCW reciprocity. If true, this is significantly more restrictive than the bills enacted in Alaska and Arizona.

[Climber]

In Colorado "Constitutional Carry" has passed its first hurdle namely, the State House of Representatives on a 40-25 vote with a few democrats voting for the bill. The state house is in the hands of the republicans but the state senate is controlled by the democrats and the dems have said that the bill is dead on arrival. If it should pass the state senate and get to Gov. John Hickenlooper's desk, he will veto the bill or that is the present opinion of the people paying attention to this sort of thing.

In the very unlikely event that this bill become law, it will change nothing in the present Colorado CCW law except that an honest man or woman no longer has to ask and pay for the privilege to get the permission of an elected public servant to allow them to exercize a Constitutional guarrantee that should not be at issue in the first place.

Elections have consequences and to paraphrase Jefferson, "You will get the government that you deserve".

[Vegetaman]

Originally Posted by kraigwy

Letters, e-mails and phone calls work, lets not let up folks.

Unfortunately in Illinois, it'd probably be the exact opposite.

[LadySmithShooter]

Weeeeehoooo!!!! Wyoming Rocks!!!!

[borntoraisehogs]

Originally Posted by Hoplophile

Unfortunately, as I read it, it does not apply to non-residents visiting Wyoming unless their state qualifies for CCW reciprocity. If true, this is significantly more restrictive than the bills enacted in Alaska and Arizona.

I need to study the Idaho bill. I asked my representative to to bill to make the permitless carry apply to all similarly Non- prohibited US citzens. I am proud that Idaho has recognized permits of every state, and with no extortion reciprocity demand. We don't want our state to deny you a single right. It makes no sense to make permitless carry available only to citizens of the state. If the state did not require its residents to obtain a drivers license , wear a motorcycle helmet, or allowed them to smoke indoors, but did not grant the same to visiting non-residents I think there would be an interesting Constitutional challenge. Our freedoms are so precious they have been purchased with American patriots blood.

[ladder13]

That makes 4 "free" States. Hopefully more on the way.

[FTG-05]

Originally Posted by ladder13

That makes 4 "free" States. Hopefully more on the way.

In July it will be: NRA-ILA :: Wyoming: ?Permitless Carry? and ?Castle Doctrine? Signed into Law!

Hopefully, Idaho, CO and perhaps Montana will follow.