The University of Wyoming is set to allow the concealed carry of firearms inside most of its buildings starting July 1, but the policy for carrying guns outside will remain unchanged.
Specifically, the policy for carrying outside on campus will remain as it has been since 2016: Concealed or open carry are both allowed, without a permit.
But once somebody sets foot inside a building on the UW campus, they’ll be allowed to conceal carry firearms with a required permit. Open carry won’t be allowed inside.
The policy encapsulates variations in firearms regulations in places such as schools and government buildings that will continue to come into play as Wyoming moves forward with the July 1 implementation of House Bill 172, which repeals gun-free zones across the state.
Trustees: Don’t Blame Us
The UW Board of Trustees on Thursday voted unanimously to change the university’s firearms policy to match HB 172.
During remarks prior to the vote, board chairman Kermit Brown said UW missed the opportunity to change its policy on its own, when those internal proposed changes were rejected by the board late last year.
Because the Legislature passed HB 172 earlier this year, and Gov. Mark Gordon allowed it to pass into law without signing it, UW has no choice but to change its policies to match the new law, Brown said.
During last year’s discussions, many UW faculty, staff and students said they don’t want concealed carry allowed in campus buildings.
The trustees can’t be blamed for the new policy going against those people’s wishes, Brown said.
“This is on the Legislature, not on the board, and it would be inappropriate to start punishing this board of trustees over the concealed carry that’s going to be permitted on campus,” he said.
“This board had nothing to do with it. It came from the Legislature and all we’re doing is getting out of the way,” Brown added.
Constitutional Carry
Wyoming has for years been a “Constitutional carry” state. That means, broadly speaking, people may carry firearms – either open or concealed – without a permit.
However, some entities – such as UW and K-12 public schools – could still establish gun-free zones on their grounds.
UW’s regulations loosened in 2016, George Mocsary, director of the Firearms Research Center and professor at the UW College of Law, told Cowboy State Daily.
Outside on campus, the policy changed to match the state’s Constitutional carry standards, he said.
What Will Change, What Won’t
The 2016 policy change was to protect people from getting nailed with a violation simply for stepping on to UW grounds with a firearm they were legally allowed to carry elsewhere, he said.
“The policy protects those who might have ham-handedly stumbled onto campus grounds with a firearm. For example, someone might leave Chili's and start to walk home. He or she might take one of the streets that walks through university housing, without even thinking that the street might be University property. This protects that person from liability,” Mocsary said.
And that won’t change.
What will change is that people over 21 with concealed carry permits will be allowed to not only come onto campus, but step through most of UW’s doors with their guns.
“A license is required to carry within facilities, with some exceptions as listed in the statute. On the grounds (outside) no license is required to carry. Indeed, even open carry is allowed on the grounds. There are some exceptions to this for certain kinds of events, per the statute,” Mocsary said.
Firearms will still be prohibited in UW laboratories or facilities containing volatile or explosive materials. They also won’t be allowed in the UW Early Childhood Education Center, in campus healthcare facilities, or at sporting events where alcohol is being served.
Mark Heinz can be reached at mark@cowboystatedaily.com.
