Gov. Matt Mead vetoed house bill 137 on Mar. 14, a bill that would have allowed Wyomingites to carry firearms at local government meetings.
In a statement released to Wyoming Secretary of State Ed Murray, Mead explained that he found the writing of the bill to be “murky” and explained that it would undermine local control for the legislation.
The bill’s sponsor, Sheridan Representative Bo Biteman, responded to the statement with an immediate release letter.
“The Governor’s local control argument is troubling,” Biteman said. “It infringes upon a Wyoming citizen’s right to self-defense.”
HB 137 passed the house 47-13 and the senate 20-10. Some have been impressed with Mead’s approach to the matter.
“I appreciate the balanced approach Governor Mead is taking towards gun reform,” University of Wyoming Law student Nick Dillinger said. “He has been a champion of gun rights and vetoing HEA 107 (originally HB 137) to address statutory murkiness is a responsible way to prevent increased litigation.”
Dillinger said he believes the bill should be discussed further.
“I support his call for a joint committee to address this issue during the summer and hope that the language can be amended to pass a more clear law.”
Laramie Representative Charles Pelkey was the lone house representative to vote against HB 137.
“I thought the language was just too ambiguous,” Pelkey said. “I am not against gun rights, but when it comes to local government meetings and campus carry, it isn’t healthy discourse. I do see an amended form of this bill being floated in the future.”
Mead also signed HB 136 that allows local school boards to determine if school employees can carry guns and other weapons. Pelkey voted in favor of HB 136.
“I think it’s actually a good idea for schools in rural areas,” Pelkey said. “Some of them are located far from any form of law enforcement, so their own protection becomes an issue at that point.”
Another bill that was killed in the senate would have given University of Wyoming students and faculty the ability to conceal a weapon on campus.
“Not passing the bill only hurts the individuals that want to carry legally to defend themselves and their classmates,” said UW student James Francis. “It protects themselves from those who do not mind breaking the law.”
Pelkey said the issue is more complex than that.
“Giving college students the right to carry firearms around the school would have too many complexities,” Pelkey said. “The university is now going to be selling alcohol at athletic events, which will create a conflict of interest with concealed-carry.”
A joint committee will discuss HB 137’s future this summer. .
