On July 1, a new Wyoming law went into effect dissolving gun free zones in the state which includes school property. Once the law was passed by the Wyoming Legislature, districts from around the state have all had their own discussions as how to best proceed.

First the basics. While Wyoming is an open carry state which requires no permit to carry a firearm in public, the act of open carry in a school is still not allowed. This new law does allow for concealed carry in schools by those holding a valid concealed carry permit. LCSD#2 Superintendent Matt Erickson and Lincoln County Sheriff Shane Johnson spoke with SVI about the subject on the verge of a new school year.

“Concealed carry and the repealing of gun free zones in the state of Wyoming became law on July 1,” stated Erickson. “So what does that mean for Lincoln 2? Anyone with a valid concealed carry can do so on school grounds on school property which includes busses.  At this time, the district has chosen not to adopt any rules or policy surrounding this new law.”

Other districts in the state have opted for additional rules for employees including required training. There are many gray areas within the enactment of the law which has fallen onto the school districts themselves to try and navigate. Training may vary from district to district.

“We want to be compliant with Wyoming and federal law,” Erickson continued. “Second we are going to try and educate and try and make families and students aware and then communicate clear expectations. We will be making a public notice in case a student sees a weapon or maybe someone who is not  fully concealed. Or a staff member or employee is carrying. As a district that will be the case in all school zones. At this point, the school board and administration has chosen not to adopt any rules or policy surrounding this.”

The district has spent the last several months in contact with law enforcement officials in discussions on how to best handle likely scenarios.

“Our resource officer is partnered with the district and we are trying to dovetail with them on this subject,” Johnson replied. “We have operated on the [premise that] guns don’t belong in schools for a long time. Now there’s a law saying you can as long as it’s concealed, you have a permit and you’re not a student. As a sheriff’s office we have an expectation that we will receive some calls if people see the firearm.”

Johnson urged that the best way a person utilizing concealed carry is to do it in a safe and responsible manner.

“At the end of the day, the people who came up with this law, felt like it would make the schools safer,” he continued. “Part of making that safer is doing a good job of concealed carry. Have a good holster and make sure that it’s not out in the open and it no longer falls out in the open. I would just encourage having a gun that you’re familiar with and a good holster. You need to wear clothes that conceal your weapon. Along with what Matt said, the education part is important. It may be alarming that if people think they see a gun in a waistband, but we expect to have some phone calls and handle that.”

Johnson later clarified that the sheriff’s office is not looking to focus on those who may have a weapon come into public view. But they hope that through education that there will not be instances of negligence.

“The law is still in place that you are not allowed to take a gun to school, but if you have a permit in good standing you can now,” Johnson reiterated. “You are not allowed to open carry in a school. One of the main advantages of being a good concealed carry person is that nobody knows you have it and that can be a resource. Be a good concealed carry person and conceal it well. Nobody should know you have it.”

Erickson thanked the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office for their involvement in the process and also emphasized that students are not allowed to gain a concealed carry permit for school grounds.

Johnson also noted that the district has undergone many months of discussion on the subject.

“I commend the school district for being proactive,” he concluded. “They reached out a long time ago and trying to prepare for it. We expect that we will have some education still to go but we’re prepared to handle that.”