KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Wyoming

HB0028 • 2020

Firearm regulation.

AN ACT relating to firearms; clarifying the applicability of the preemption of firearms regulation by the state; prohibiting governmental entities from operating firearm buyback programs; conforming language; and providing for an effective date.

Firearms
Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor
Representative Lindholm
Last action
2020-03-09
Official status
inactive
Effective date
3/1/2020

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass and was not considered for introduction on March 9, 2020.

Firearm Regulation Act

The bill clarifies that only the state can regulate firearms and ammunition, bans local governments from operating firearm buyback programs, and defines key terms related to these regulations.

What This Bill Does

  • Clarifies that only the state has the power to make rules about firearms and ammunition.
  • Bans cities, towns, counties, or other government groups from operating firearm buyback programs.
  • Defines what 'ammunition', 'firearm', and 'firearm accessories' mean in this context.

Who It Names or Affects

  • State and local government entities
  • Firearm owners and businesses

Terms To Know

Ammunition
Any projectile expelled by action of an explosive from a firearm.
Firearm
Any weapon which will or is designed to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive.
Firearm accessories
As defined in W.S. 6-8-403(a)(iv)

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass and was not considered for introduction.
  • It does not specify what happens to existing local firearm regulations.

Bill History

  1. 2020-03-09 Senate

    S Did Not Consider for Introduction

  2. 2020-02-18 Senate

    S Received for Introduction

  3. 2020-02-18 House

    H 3rd Reading:Passed 55-4-1-0-0

  4. 2020-02-17 House

    H 2nd Reading:Passed

  5. 2020-02-14 House

    H COW:Passed

  6. 2020-02-13 House

    H Placed on General File

  7. 2020-02-13 House

    H01 - Judiciary:Recommend Do Pass 8-1-0-0-0

  8. 2020-02-13 House

    H01 - Judiciary:Recommend Do Pass 8-0-0-1-0

  9. 2020-02-11 House

    H Introduced and Referred to H01 - Judiciary 52-6-2-0-0

  10. 2020-02-07 House

    H Received for Introduction

  11. 2019-12-24 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
20LSO-0005
2020
STATE OF WYOMING
20LSO-0005
Numbered
2.0

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0028

Firearm regulation.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Lindholm, Blackburn, Blake, Clem, Greear, Loucks, MacGuire and Olsen and Senator(s) Coe, Driskill, Landen, Pappas and Schuler

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to firearms; clarifying the applicability of the preemption of firearms regulation by the state; prohibiting governmental entities from operating firearm buyback programs; conforming language; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

W.S. 6
‑
8
‑
401(c), by creating new subsections (d) and (e) and 6
‑
8
‑
403(a)(vii) are amended to read:

6
‑
8
‑
401.

Firearm, weapon and ammunition regulation and prohibition by state; preemption of gun buyback programs.

(c)

The sale, transfer, purchase, delivery, taxation, manufacture, ownership, transportation, storage, use and possession of firearms, weapons and ammunition shall be authorized, regulated and prohibited by the state, and regulation thereof is preempted by the state. Except as authorized by W.S. 15
‑
1
‑
103(a)(xviii) and 21
‑
3
‑
132
and as otherwise specifically provided by this chapter
, no city, town, county, political subdivision or any other
governmental
entity shall authorize, regulate or prohibit the sale, transfer, purchase, delivery, taxation, manufacture, ownership, transportation, storage, use, carrying or possession of firearms, weapons, accessories, components or ammunition
.
except as specifically provided by this chapter.
This section shall not affect zoning or other ordinances which encompass firearms businesses along with other businesses. Zoning and other ordinances which are designed for the purpose of restricting or prohibiting the sale, purchase, transfer or manufacture of firearms or ammunition as a method of regulating firearms or ammunition are in conflict with this section and are prohibited.

(d)

No city, town, county, political subdivision, state agency or entity or any other governmental entity shall operate a firearm buyback program or participate in the implementation, administration or operation of a firearm buyback program.

(e)

As used in this section:

(i)

"Ammunition" means any projectile expelled by action of an explosive from a firearm;

(ii)

"Firearm" means any weapon which will or is designed to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive;

(iii)

"Firearm accessories" means as defined in W.S. 6
‑
8
‑
403(a)(iv);

(iv)

"Firearm buyback program" means a program designed to reduce the number of firearms, firearm accessories or ammunition owned by members of the public through the purchase of privately owned firearms, firearm accessories or ammunition. The term does not include any other program operated by a law enforcement agency to purchase firearms, firearm accessories or ammunition to be used for law enforcement purposes.

6
‑
8
‑
403.

Definitions.

(a)

As used in this act:

(vii)

"This act" means W.S.
6
‑
8
‑
401
6
‑
8
‑
402
through 6
‑
8
‑
406;

Section 2
.

This act is effective July 1, 2020
.

(END)

1
HB0028