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?s about WY Carry Laws

MedusaOblongata

Regular Member
Joined
Sep 23, 2008
Messages
8
Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
I will be in Yellowstone in a week or two. I usually CC, but my WA CPL is not recognized in WY.

I thought I read somewhere that you could carry concealed in WY without a CCW as long as you were not inside the limits of any city, but I haven't seen this confirmed. Is this correct, or will I be unable to carry concealed anywhere in WY?

What kind of reaction should I expect if I open carry in Yellowstone? I'm not used to OC, even though it's legal here in WA (I never see it in Seattle).

If I'm carrying in an IWB holster, with my shirt tucked in behind the gun, so only the grip is visible, is that considered unconcealed enough? Or will the entire holster have to be OWB?

Thanks
 

MatieA

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 25, 2009
Messages
400
Location
Egbert, Wyoming, USA
Concealed carry at all in Wyoming without a concealed carry permit is illegal. Just carry it openly and you'll be fine. As for your IWB holster; I would "assume" that it would be considered open carry, but I am not law enforcement.
 

MamaLiberty

Regular Member
Joined
Nov 8, 2006
Messages
894
Location
Newcastle, Wyoming, USA
I thought I read somewhere that you could carry concealed in WY without a CCW as long as you were not inside the limits of any city, but I haven't seen this confirmed. Is this correct, or will I be unable to carry concealed anywhere in WY?

Your description above is for CC in Montana, not Wyoming. Yellowstone is partly in both states.

There is no law on the books regarding open carry in Wyoming. If you can legally own a gun, you can carry it anywhere but on federal property. We all respect any private property restrictions, of course, but you probably won't find many outside Jackson Hole.

Most people in Wyoming don't carry openly, but it is generally accepted and you will not likely have any hassles as long as you don't project any threat. Just be yourself and enjoy your stay.

Research the laws at the relevant websites for yourself, however. You should not count on the non-lawyer opinions of anyone else, of course.
 

MadMax

New member
Joined
Aug 16, 2010
Messages
8
Location
Maine
CC in Wyoming requires a permit. You can OC without a permit. If you are going to be in Yellowstone it is probably a good idea to keep it unloaded and locked in a case in the trunk of the car; the NPS rangers are ignorant and do not like it when visitors have guns.
 

Wyocowboy

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 11, 2009
Messages
56
Location
Newcastle, Wyoming, USA
?s about Wy carry laws

It is true that some NPS Rangers do not like anyone carrying a firearm. You probably will not be hassled if you keep your firearm locked up and unloaded. On the other hand, what good is a locked up and unloaded firearm? I know one of the Rangers working in the Teton area. He is from Wyoming, a former State Trooper. This Ranger told me he has had some very spirited discussions with some of the Rangers from out of state. They don't like our firearms laws . So what? They have to obey the law, and it is NOT unlawful to carry in the Parks anymore. If you choose to carry, then carry.
 

BigUgly

Founder's Club Member
Joined
Jul 18, 2008
Messages
20
Location
Lander, Wyoming, USA
The carry of a firearm in a 'federal building'

How many of you have actually read Title 18, Part 1, Chapter 44, Section 930?
That is the part of the United States Code that is used to forbid the carry of a weapon into a federal building - and it is false.

Copied here for your education and edification is that portion of THE LAW.
The green section concerns how current this information is.
The red hi-lighted areas are the areas that make it LAWFUL to carry in a 'federal facility'. Since 'open carry' is a "lawful activity" with the borders of the Sovereign State of Wyoming and Federal Law now allows carry in National Parks "according to the LAWS of the States containing said National Parks" it is LAWFUL of carry in a park building (unless privately owned) within the portion of Yellowstone lying within the bounds of the State of Wyoming.
======
TITLE 18 > PART I > CHAPTER 44 > § 930
§ 930. Possession of firearms and dangerous weapons in Federal facilities
Title 18 of the US Code as currently published by the US Government reflects the laws passed by Congress as of Feb.1, 2010, and it is this version that is published here.

(a) Except as provided in subsection (d), whoever knowingly possesses or causes to be present a firearm or other dangerous weapon in a Federal facility (other than a Federal court facility), or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both.
(b) Whoever, with intent that a firearm or other dangerous weapon be used in the commission of a crime, knowingly possesses or causes to be present such firearm or dangerous weapon in a Federal facility, or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.
(c) A person who kills any person in the course of a violation of subsection (a) or (b), or in the course of an attack on a Federal facility involving the use of a firearm or other dangerous weapon, or attempts or conspires to do such an act, shall be punished as provided in sections 1111, 1112, 1113, and 1117.
(d) Subsection (a) shall not apply to—
(1) the lawful performance of official duties by an officer, agent, or employee of the United States, a State, or a political subdivision thereof, who is authorized by law to engage in or supervise the prevention, detection, investigation, or prosecution of any violation of law;
(2) the possession of a firearm or other dangerous weapon by a Federal official or a member of the Armed Forces if such possession is authorized by law; or
(3) the lawful carrying of firearms or other dangerous weapons in a Federal facility incident to hunting or other lawful purposes.
(e)
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), whoever knowingly possesses or causes to be present a firearm or other dangerous weapon in a Federal court facility, or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 2 years, or both.
(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to conduct which is described in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (d).
(f) Nothing in this section limits the power of a court of the United States to punish for contempt or to promulgate rules or orders regulating, restricting, or prohibiting the possession of weapons within any building housing such court or any of its proceedings, or upon any grounds appurtenant to such building.
(g) As used in this section:
(1) The term “Federal facility” means a building or part thereof owned or leased by the Federal Government, where Federal employees are regularly present for the purpose of performing their official duties.
(2) The term “dangerous weapon” means a weapon, device, instrument, material, or substance, animate or inanimate, that is used for, or is readily capable of, causing death or serious bodily injury, except that such term does not include a pocket knife with a blade of less than 21/2 inches in length.
(3) The term “Federal court facility” means the courtroom, judges’ chambers, witness rooms, jury deliberation rooms, attorney conference rooms, prisoner holding cells, offices of the court clerks, the United States attorney, and the United States marshal, probation and parole offices, and adjoining corridors of any court of the United States.
(h) Notice of the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) shall be posted conspicuously at each public entrance to each Federal facility, and notice of subsection (e) shall be posted conspicuously at each public entrance to each Federal court facility, and no person shall be convicted of an offense under subsection (a) or (e) with respect to a Federal facility if such notice is not so posted at such facility, unless such person had actual notice of subsection (a) or (e), as the case may be.
=====
 

MamaLiberty

Regular Member
Joined
Nov 8, 2006
Messages
894
Location
Newcastle, Wyoming, USA
Sure, B. U. - I'm sure that works just as well as all of the other "laws" that limit what our overlords may do. NOT!

In case you hadn't noticed, they pretty much ignore any limitations, constitutional or otherwise.

If you have the big bucks and time to fight it in court - assuming you live through the SWAT response - you just let us know how it turns out for you.

Not worth it to me. I simply don't go into the post awful, or any other "federal" building.
 

Gunslinger

Regular Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2008
Messages
3,853
Location
Free, Colorado, USA
It is true that some NPS Rangers do not like anyone carrying a firearm. You probably will not be hassled if you keep your firearm locked up and unloaded. On the other hand, what good is a locked up and unloaded firearm? I know one of the Rangers working in the Teton area. He is from Wyoming, a former State Trooper. This Ranger told me he has had some very spirited discussions with some of the Rangers from out of state. They don't like our firearms laws . So what? They have to obey the law, and it is NOT unlawful to carry in the Parks anymore. If you choose to carry, then carry.

State law applies in national parks now. Whogas if some GS-5 Park Ranger likes it or not? They know the law and can't do jack poop about it. MT and WY have similar laws with respect to firearms, so it really won't matter what part or Yellowstone you're in.
 

AB

Regular Member
Joined
Nov 11, 2007
Messages
240
Location
ACTIVIST Cheyenne, Wyoming
CC in Wyoming requires a permit. You can OC without a permit. If you are going to be in Yellowstone it is probably a good idea to keep it unloaded and locked in a case in the trunk of the car; the NPS rangers are ignorant and do not like it when visitors have guns.

A lot of police don't like citizens carrying as well, does that mean I am going to carry my gun "unloaded" and in a locked box? Hell No!

I really don't care what the park police want...
 
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