Views Around the State: Be mindful of accidental consequences

Last week, we reported that local school board trustees and administrators had concerns about HB 172 the “Wyoming Repeal Gun Free Zones Act.”

As written, HB 172 would allow concealed carry permit holders to bring firearms into any public school, including elementary and secondary school facilities, as well as public colleges and university athletic events that do not sell alcoholic beverages.

In a special meeting on Jan. 8, those school trustees and administrators expressed that they would like to see local school districts retain control of who may carry a concealed gun on school grounds. There are also questions about how such a law might affect the district’s ability to secure liability insurance and at what cost.

The House Judiciary Committee heard testimony on the bill on Friday. The number of public commenters opposed to the bill far outnumbered the bill’s backers. On Monday, the committee did not take public comment but voted 8-1 to advance the bill to the body of the whole.

Speaking in favor of the bill before Monday’s vote, HB 172 co-sponsor Rep. Lee Filer, R-Cheyenne, said he believes that state lawmakers are as close to the people as any school board official.

“We are local control. Your state representatives actually live in your neighborhoods,” Filer said.

The people of Johnson County and other counties in Wyoming might well disagree with Filer. There are still stickers being sold around town saying, “We haven’t trusted Cheyenne since 1892,” a reference to the county’s treatment by the state during the Johnson County Cattle War.

While Wyoming’s citizen legislature is certainly more local than in most states, the people of Johnson County elect a local school board. We also elect a local mayor, city council, county commission, county sheriff, county clerk, county treasurer and county clerk of court. These are truly the elected officials who are closest to the people.

Without delving into all of the pros and cons of allowing concealed weapons into all public places, including schools, it is prudent to listen to what local officials have to say about this matter. Further, it would also be prudent to understand all of the potential outcomes such a decision might have.

Our own school superintendent was unsure what the impacts of allowing concealed carry in the schools would have on the district’s insurance plan. Will it cost more to insure the schools? Will the schools even be able to secure insurance? Certainly, these are not unreasonable questions.

Does the Wyoming Legislature know the answer? If they do, they have not shared it with our local school district. Shouldn’t legislators fully understand whether allowing concealed carry in schools would make insurance vastly more expensive or even negate policies before mandating the policy from Cheyenne?

What is the rush in making this decision? We urge the Wyoming Legislature to listen to educators, local law enforcement, and locally elected officials when making this decision. We also urge the legislature to move cautiously with this bill. Weigh all the pros and cons of allowing people to carry concealed weapons in our schools. Let’s slow things down and make sure we are making the best, informed decision.

Rushing forward without even trying to address potential pitfalls of passing this legislation could have grave inadvertent consequences that drastically impact our local schools.

This editorial was first published on Jan. 22 and is republished with permission via the Wyoming News Exchange. HB 172 has been approved by the House and is now awaiting introduction in the Senate.