Wyoming Drops 14 States From Reciprocity

[waynesan]

I was first made aware of this on another forum. I called the Wyoming Attorney Generals Office to confirm the facts as reported and its true.

I was planning on going to Wyoming next year on vacation. Now I'm going to have to make some changes in my plans. The following quote is from a directive sent out to all law enforcement agencies in the State.


Quote:
TO: All Wyoming Sheriffs
All Wyoming Chiefs of Police

FROM: Forrest C. Bright, Director

DATE: February 12, 2009

RE: Concealed Firearm Permit Reciprocity

I am writing to let all the agencies in Wyoming know of substantial changes resulting from review of other states’ concealed firearm criteria. The Wyoming Attorney General’s Office recently completed examination of the other 49 states statutes for the purpose of honoring concealed firearms permits issued by another state, or reciprocity.

Pursuant to Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-8-401(a)(iii), Wyoming will recognize a permit from another state that “has laws similar to the provisions of this section, as determined by the attorney general . . ..” The Wyoming Attorney General has determined that with the exception of 8 states, presently all the others concealed firearm permit statutes are not sufficiently similar to Wyoming’s. Specifically, Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-8-104(b)(v) prohibits issuance of a permit to any person who has been convicted of a controlled substance violation, felony or misdemeanor in any jurisdiction. Most other states’ analogous
statutes do not.

The Wyoming Attorney General holds that if a misdemeanor drug conviction disqualifies a Wyoming resident, is also needs to disqualify an out-of-state permit holder. Due to the difference in how each state handles controlled substance convictions, Wyoming is also limited in our ability to maintain reciprocity with states we may have previously.
Accordingly, as of March 1, 2009, Wyoming can only honor concealed firearm permits issued by the following states: Connecticut, Ohio, Georgia, Oklahoma, Maryland, Oregon, Massachusetts and Utah.

[Catherine]

Holy moly!

This is not a good thing considering how FREE most people think that WY is and/or WAS in their gun laws!

It looks like the State of WY may get a letter from me - tourism department and elsewhere.

Catherine

[Picard]

Why did they do this? It makes no sense.

[Mickstix]

Basically becasue they're CCW issue "requirements" are different from alot of other states.. In a nutshell, it looks like they disqualify for "any" controlled substance charge (misdemeanors included) and dont put a time frame limit on it, where as most other states will issue (for instance) if it's not been within the last 3-5 years. Least that's how I read it??

[SomeKid]

Wow, by chance, a Dem AG?

[SMMAssociates]

Probably a new AG....

OH's controlled substances rule is essentially "forever", too, although there are some ways to seal such records.

In some fairness to WY, though, what they've apparently done is just try to line up their requirements with other states. IOW, if you can get a license in West Podunk, but a WY resident can't get one in WY, why should the visitor be able to carry?

(One of the things that bothers me about HR218 - LEO's - retired or activce - can carry in states where "ordinary citizens" can't, even if the LEO's are visitors....)

What's really bothersome here, of course, is the guy who's "clean" - never saw any controlled substances - but now can't carry in WY and has no chance of getting that back until HIS state changes their rules, which may infringe on a lot more people....

'Course, there's always TX.... My OH CHL, which is good in Wyoming, isn't good in PA or TX. However, I can get a PA non-resident for $30-ish and a couple postage stamps, and it's good in TX!

Crazy-quilt....

Regards,

[Standing Wolf]

Why did they do this? It makes no sense.

Like the average street criminal, government does whatever it can get away with.

[Catherine]

Standing Wolf,

Bingo!

My husband will not like this because he carries concealed and open here in MT and in other states that honor his permit.

Catherine

[230RN]

Did they do that with drivers' licenses, too?

Ha. Ha.

"Full faith and credit," my soft fat tush.

[Wildalaska]

Rather than screech about the proper interpretation of a law (apparently) as a tinfoil conspiracy by evil government, perhaps the law should be changed?

WildnawthatwouldentaileffortAlaska TM

"Specifically, Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-8-104(b)(v) prohibits issuance of a permit to any person who has been convicted of a controlled substance violation, felony or misdemeanor in any jurisdiction. Most other states’ analogous
statutes do not."

[Uglyoldpoorman]

They should rename the cowboy state to "The State that always cuts its own throat".

[The Rabbi]

It's WY. So what? WHo wants to go there anyway?

[ultradoc]

bummer

[Z-Michigan]

It looks like their decision is legally correct but socially terrible. This does drop WY a notch in my view. I know there is the "Free State Wyoming" little group and some others who view it as a libertarian state, but while it is in some ways, if you do some digging it also has some scary authoritarian features.

Just another reason we need nationwide CPL reciprocity, or just preemption of anti-concealed-carry laws. Good luck getting either one through this Congress!

[230RN]

Rabbi, are you falling into the "who cares?" trap for real, or is this a reference to the famous Niemoller "quote"?

Same technique was used here in Colorado, when they passed the law about not honoring CCWs from states where you were not a resident.

The action of Wyoming will tend toward making the qualifications for all licensees the same as the worst states in the nation.

"Well, they did it in (name a State), why shouldn't we do it here?"

All supposedly for the health, benefit, and welfare of the State's residents.

It all makes me think perhaps Wyoming will be the next "targeted" State, as Colorado was in the last four or five years --and sucessfully so.

Terry, 230RN

[scurtis_34471]

It was bad enough when we decided to give felons a life-long scarlet letter and ban them from gun ownership, but it was understandable when felonies were restricted to things like murder, rape, kidnapping, robbery and burglary. Over the years politicians pandering to their constituencies and wanting to appear tough on crime have created literally thousands of other felony offenses. You can now lose your gun rights for digging oysters without a permit or writing a bad check for $250. Apparently not satisfied, they have now moved on to misdemeanor offenses. First it was Lautenberg. Then states like Ohio and Wyoming started using absolutely any minor drug offense no matter how old as reason to deny a carry permit. Where does this end? If ever there was a way to disarm the people, this is it. Make as many of us into criminals as possible by lowering the bar to the point where it is nearly impossible to live a day without breaking the law. Either that or lower the bar on mental health standards.

We really need to start pushing back on this stuff.

[Rugerlvr]

Make as many of us into criminals as possible by lowering the bar to the point where it is nearly impossible to live a day without breaking the law.

This is what I'm worried about. Pass enough laws, and we're ALL criminals.

[feedthehogs]

This is your gun on dope.

[Steve48]

Looks like I'll be getting another one from Utah.

[Johnny Dollar]

It's WY. So what? Who wants to go there anyway?

Devil's Tower,Grand Teton,Jackson Hole, and Yellowstone for starters.

Looks like I'll be getting another one from Utah.

Get one while you can Steve.They seem to be getting a little dicey in Utah about issuing non-res permits.I hope that does not happen.

[230RN]

scurtis_34471 hit the nail on the head.

It was bad enough when we decided to give felons a life-long scarlet letter and ban them from gun ownership, but it was understandable when felonies were restricted to things like murder, rape, kidnapping, robbery and burglary.

Over the years politicians pandering to their constituencies and wanting to appear tough on crime have created literally thousands of other felony offenses. You can now lose your gun rights for digging oysters without a permit or writing a bad check for $250. Apparently not satisfied, they have now moved on to misdemeanor offenses. First it was Lautenberg. Then states like Ohio and Wyoming started using absolutely any minor drug offense no matter how old as reason to deny a carry permit. Where does this end? If ever there was a way to disarm the people, this is it. Make as many of us into criminals as possible by lowering the bar to the point where it is nearly impossible to live a day without breaking the law.

Bing-freakin'-o.

We really need to start pushing back on this stuff.

Double bing-freakin'-o.

[langenc]

Have plans to go to Utah, Colorado on the way hoime from NRA meetings. Wiull have to avoid WY now in addition to IL. Will send same message to the 'chambers' in WY that Ill send to IL and let them know why.

3 yrs ago did enjoy the collegiate rodeo in Cody on a Fri eve in Sept.

[RobNDenver]

I just wrote the Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce and this is what I said. . .

My wife and I usually come up for Frontier Days and spend at least a day in Cheyenne for the festivities.

I have hunted antelope in Area 38 for two years now, staying in Cheyenne for about a week each time. I had applied for my Wyoming non-resident antelope license and was planning my hunt again this year. I will be calling the Wyo. Game and Fish Department to withdraw my application for a license.

I just learned that the Wyoming Attorney General has decided that concealed handgun license from Colorado will no longer be honored by Wyoming.

I won't be coming to Cheyenne until this odd interpretation of the law is rescinded. The attorney general has chosen to brand me, and any other law abiding citizen with a permit, as a potential threat.

I suspect that I may not be the only potential tourist that feels this way. . .

[Dark Tranquility]

I too am willing to write a letter. I’m not a resident but a frequent visitor. To whom should I write for greatest effect?

Montana just looks better all the time.

Dan

[Johnny Dollar]

Montana just looks better all the time.

I love Montana,but I love Wyoming just as much.Wyoming did something like this once before and rescinded, if my failing memory is correct.
They'll get back on the right track again.Our letters to the AG,etc. will help persuade them.Tourism and out of state hunters are important to the Cowboy State's economy.