UW Seeks Input on Concealed Weapons on Campus

In accordance with a directive from Gov. Mark Gordon, the University of Wyoming is seeking input on possible changes to UW regulations that would allow the carrying of concealed weapons on campus.

UW's current Regulation 6-4 prevents "dangerous weapons" from being carried in university facilities, with exemptions granted by the UW Police Department on a case-by-case basis if the requester has a legitimate security concern and firearms training. Changes are being considered in light of the governor's directive to the university, community colleges and school districts to "take up these difficult conversations again and establish policies that allow for the safe carry of concealed weapons within their facilities."

This directive was contained in the governor's March 22 message explaining his veto of House Bill 125, which was approved during the 2024 session of the Wyoming Legislature and would have created a new statute called the Wyoming Gun Free Zones Act. The bill would have allowed anyone lawfully carrying a concealed weapon to do so at "any public school, public college or university athletic event taking place on public property that does not sell alcoholic beverages" and "any public college or university facility." The measure would have removed the university's authority to regulate the storage, use and possession of firearms.

The governor explained that his veto was not based on opposition to repealing gun-free zones, but rather on his concern that the legislation would erode local control and give "sole authority to the Legislature to micromanage a constitutionally protected right."

UW has established a feedback form for students, faculty, staff and the public to provide input on several options related to firearms on campus, ranging from maintaining the current regulation to allowing unlimited constitutional concealed carrying of weapons across campus. The deadline for submission of input through the feedback form is Friday, Sept. 6.

Additionally, the UW Board of Trustees will accept in-person comment on the issue at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 26, during its regular Sept. 25-27 meeting in Laramie at the Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center. Those wishing to address the board in person are asked to arrive early and register via a sign-in sheet in the Gateway Center lobby. Public comment is limited to three minutes per person and is subject to the discretion of the board chairman.