Staff Reports
Wyoming lawmakers took a bold stand for Second Amendment rights by overwhelmingly passing Senate File 101, an update to the state’s Second Amendment Protection Act aimed at blocking federal overreach on firearms. Sponsored by Senate President Bo Biteman, the bill prohibits state and local agencies from using resources to enforce unconstitutional federal gun regulations, including those targeting firearms, accessories, magazines, and ammunition.
This anti-commandeering measure empowers law-abiding citizens by allowing them to sue violating agencies for up to $50,000 per incident, plus criminal penalties for officers who aid federal gun grabs. Supporters emphasize it upholds Wyoming’s commitment to individual liberty, rooted in constitutional principles that bar the feds from commandeering state forces. Far from hindering real crime-fighting, the law carves out exceptions for serious offenses, ensuring public safety while shielding honest gun owners from bureaucratic tyranny.
Law enforcement opposition, voiced by all 23 Wyoming sheriffs and chiefs, claimed it could muddy federal partnerships on trafficking and violence—but proponents dismissed this as fearmongering from those too cozy with D.C. dictates. The bill passed the House 40-21 and cleared the Senate, reflecting strong grassroots demand against anticipated federal assaults on self-defense rights. Critics ignore that federal agents have their own resources; states shouldn’t be conscripted into eroding the Bill of Rights.
Governor Mark Gordon dealt a setback by vetoing SF 101 on March 10, 2026, citing vague concerns about “unintended consequences” and even invoking letters from the Trump administration warning of hampered crime-fighting. This veto reeks of capitulation to federal pressure, betraying Wyoming’s pro-gun heritage despite the governor’s lip service to the Second Amendment. Lawmakers mustered only a 12-18 Senate vote to override on March 11, falling short of the two-thirds needed, but the fight exposed RINO weaknesses in standing firm.
Wyoming’s push joins a nationwide surge of states rejecting Biden-era remnants and future gun control schemes, proving federalism’s power to protect freedoms. True patriots see this as essential resistance to an overreaching central government that views armed citizens as threats rather than guardians of liberty. As more states follow suit, the message is clear: the Second Amendment endures when leaders prioritize people over Washington elites.
