A Wyoming couple that had more than 30 firearms seized by federal agents during a pre-dawn raid at their home in 2023 might finally get their guns back, thanks to an executive order from President Donald Trump.
“I think it would be wonderful” to have the firearms returned, Noreen Scroggins told Cowboy State Daily on Friday.
The guns might be returned through Trump’s Feb. 7 “Protecting Second Amendment Rights” executive order, Gun Owners of America National Director Mark Jones of Buffalo told Cowboy State Daily.
Guns Taken, Never Returned
Early on Nov. 23, 2023, federal agents raided the home of Scroggins and Randy Cane in the small community of Big Horn, in Sheridan County.
During the raid. agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) seized about 38 firearms, as well as a “whole load of ammunition,” she said.
Most of the guns belonged to Cane, who had a previous non-violent felony conviction.
But Scroggins said some of her guns were taken as well, even though she has a clean record.
The raid was based on allegations that Cane was illegally possessing firearms as a convicted felon.
Cane previously told Cowboy State Daily that he had a prior non-violent felony conviction but had served his sentence.
He said that he took possession of firearms he had inherited from his father only after having his rights restored. He said he had a certificate from the office of Gov. Mark Gordon – verifying his restoration of rights.
The raid might have resulted from a gap between states restoring non-violent offenders’ rights, but the federal government not recognizing the states’ restorations of rights.
Scroggins and Cane both told Cowboy State Daily that they were given the impression that once the matter was cleared, their firearms would be returned.
No further charges were ever brought against Cane, but the ATF never gave their guns back, the couple said.
Scroggins said on Friday that she had sent the ATF paperwork on the seized firearms and ammunition, through the couple’s attorney.
But recently, “The ATF said they don’t have any paperwork, and I was like, ‘What?’” she said.
She added that she even offered, through the attorney, to buy the guns and ammunition back, to the tune of thousands of dollars, but got no response.
She said she and Cane have been working through the office of Wyoming Republican Rep. Harriet Hageman to get the matter resolved.
And Trump’s executive order should help, Scroggins said.
“I’m hoping that this, the order from Trump, will work,” she said.
Attorney General Looks Into ATF
Jones said that among other things, Trump’s executive order directs Attorney General Pam Bondi to look into the past several years of ATF activity, to see if there were examples of “citizens having their Second Amendment rights violated.”
Cane and Scroggins’ case could very well be such an example, he said.
“I think it’s possible (they will have the guns returned). They are trying to seek relief,” he said. “I’m hoping that this Trump executive order is going to force this stuff to light.”
Mark Heinz can be reached at mark@cowboystatedaily.com.
