Firearm bills move through State Senate

CHEYENNE — The State Senate has moved forward on two pieces of firearms legislation.

Sen. Ed Cooper (R-Ten Sleep) said Saturday in his weekly report that the Senate Judiciary Committee passed Senate File 81 – Second Amendment Preservation Act unanimously. The bill would invalidate certain federal laws that limit the right to bear arms.

Cooper said that while the committee passed the bill Wednesday it was laid back on Committee of the Whole on Friday.

“The bill as written is not passable,” he said.

Suggestions were provided by law enforcement and national shooting sports organizations.

On Saturday, Cooper said, “The sponsor is writing some strong amendments. He will get it to where it’s a good bill. It’s an important bill.”

Cooper said the bill basically allows Wyoming to override federal gun control bills using the Second and Tenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution. “It allows us to use the Tenth to protect the Second Amendment.”

One large amendment was approved on Monday and the bill was approved on Committee of the Whole Monday and on second reading Tuesday.

One key component to the amendment provided authority to law enforcement stating, “Nothing in this section shall limit the authority or discretion of a public officer or an employee of this state or any political subdivision of this state to investigate, charge or prosecute any person for felonies that do not constitute the infringements described under W.S. 6-8-407(a) and subsection (a) of this section. As used in this subsection, ‘investigate’ may include securing a weapon in the course of law enforcement safeguarding an area when performing their duties.”

The Senate approved Senate File 67 - Repeal of Gun Free Zones and Preemption Amendments and Cooper said many people have been reacting to the bill without completely reading it or understanding it.

The bill would repeal gun free zones for those with a permit to conceal carry a firearm. Under the bill as passed by the Senate a person could lawfully carry a concealed weapon if they have a permit, or if they meet the requirements to conceal carry without a permit into a government meeting or legislative meeting.

Under the bill, a person with a conceal carry permit can conceal carry a firearm into any school or college.

The bill states that school districts can regulate possession of firearms by employees and private property owners may restrict firearms on their own private property.

The bill also states that, “Except as authorized by Wyoming statute, no state agency or entity, city, town, county, political subdivision or any other entity shall authorize, regulate or prohibit the sale, transfer, purchase, delivery, taxation, manufacture, ownership, transportation, storage, use, carrying or possession of firearms, weapons, accessories, components or ammunition except as specifically provided by this chapter.”

OTHER LEGISLATION

•The State Senate approved Senate File 66 amending the Slayer rule to include right of survivorship on a 29-1 vote with Sen. Cale Case (R-Lander) opposed.

“We have a really good strong bill coming over to the House,” Cooper said.

•The education funding bill passed third reading on Friday with “pretty deep cuts” that were heavy on administration but not on teacher salaries.

According to the Wyoming Tribune Eagle, the Senate version would cut $130 million from education funding – about 7% from the school finance model.

•Cooper voted in the Judiciary Committee against bill to protect journalists from revealing news sources.

Cooper said he had mixed emotions. “The language was not strong enough in defining journalists,” Cooper said. He said to him it “put serious journalism in question. I want to see good language.”

He said he would like to see language to protect journalists not those who “claim to be journalists and say whatever they want” [while reporting the news].

Journalists, as defined in House Bill 103 were “means any person who is professionally engaged in gathering, preparing, writing, editing, filming, taping, photographing or broadcasting news on a radio or television station licensed by the Federal Communications Commission or for publication in or with a newspaper, magazine, news media, press association, wire service, website or other professional medium or agency that has as one of its principal functions the processing and researching of news intended for publication. “Journalist” includes any person who is an employee of or who is otherwise affiliated with a medium or agency that has as one of its principal functions the processing and researching of news intended for publication and includes any student enrolled at the University of Wyoming or a Wyoming community college who, regardless of pay, otherwise meets the requirements of this paragraph.”

After passing the House 36-24, the bill failed in committee with Cooper one of three senators opposed.

Rep. Mike Greear (R-Worland) and Rep. John Winter (R-Thermopolis) voted against the bill on third reading in the House on March 8.

•The Senate failed to pass the resolution regarding the constitutional convention of the states. “It was a great discussion,” Cooper said. “There were strong arguments on both sides. It was a great learning experience for everyone, including myself.”

•Senate File 145 that would require a runoff election after a primary election if a candidate did not receive more than 50% of the votes passed second reading Monday and was laid back on third reading Tuesday.

Cooper said he opposes the bill, noting “it is thinly disguised to manipulate elections.” Cooper said Wyoming’s election laws have worked well for 135 years and to “overhaul the election system should take a lot of thought and preparation.”

He said it is also unfair to the county clerks.