
Poll: Should Wyoming Get Rid Of Most Gun-Free Zones?
The Wyoming House of Representatives has voted for a bill to allow people to concealed carry firearms into most areas currently deisgnated as gun-free zones.
The bill has now moved on to the Wyoming Senate.
You can read House Bill 172 here.
There would still be some limitations on carying firearms. For example, private property owners could still ban guns on their property.
Gun-free zones could be maintained in "state agency operated health and human services settings, health and human services facilities that are licensed by the department of family services or department of corrections or health and human services facilities that are certified by the behavioral health division of the department of health to provide residential services."
While people could carry guns into public schools and colleges, concealed carry permits would be required for those areas.
School boards could also decide on their policies on employees carrying guns on school property.
Even so, the number of places that would be off-limits to concealed firearms under Wyoming law would be greatly reduced. Carrying weapons into government meetings, include those in the state capitol, would be allowed. Carrying guns into most public buildings would be allowed.
Arguments Pro And Con
Opponents of getting rid of gun-free zones think this is a bad idea for a number of reasons. In past debates on similar bills University of Wyoming professors have worried about armed students who may be angry over a bad grade, as one example.
In general, supporters of gun-free zones think more firearms means a greater chance of people reacting emotionally to a situation and reaching for a gun, often without considering the consequences. And they argue that the zones offer one more barrier to mass-shooters and other violent criminals.
But supporters of getting rid of gun-free zones point to the fact that an alarmingly high number of mass shootings around the country have happened in areas designated as "gun-free," especially in public schools and universities. They say the best counter to a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun. Some also point to the Second Amendment, with it's language that "the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
So what do you think? Should the legislature get rid of gun-free zones in Wyoming?
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