Wyoming
Opinion | Why would Wyoming allow concealed guns at the Capitol, but restrict cameras?
Wyoming’s elected officials are trying to simultaneously get more guns and fewer cameras in the State Capitol.
I know that the pen is mightier than the sword, but can we please discard this absurd notion that photojournalists’ Nikons are dangerous, but election deniers’ Glocks are perfectly safe in the halls of government?
Let’s start with the controversial gun possession issue. Far-right lawmakers opposing any gun restrictions, including gun-free zones, have long tried to allow weapons inside the Capitol.
But this new proposal was advanced by the Capitol Building Commission, i.e. the governor, secretary of state, state auditor, state treasurer and state superintendent of public instruction.
The commission voted unanimously in favor of a plan to allow concealed firearms in many areas of the Capitol and attached facilities, including the extension that connects to the Herschler Building. There will be a 45-day public comment period and other requirements before any rules and regulations actually change.
What concerns me, however, is how blithely the state’s top five elected officials ignored the public feedback they’ve already received. Eighty-seven percent of the 130 respondents to a State Construction Department online survey opposed changing the existing gun-free policy.
One state employee expressed feeling “uncomfortable and fearful of coworkers, public visitors and anyone other than security personnel carrying firearms at my place of work.”
Other respondents believed firearms shouldn’t be allowed where heated debate takes place. That’s a great description of the Legislature, where cooler heads often do not prevail.
At least 23 states allow some form of legal firearms possession at statehouses, though the rules vary greatly. My chief objection to Wyoming joining that list is the likelihood of guns being used — deliberately or not — to intimidate others and silence voices.
The Legislature makes its own rules for how business is conducted in its areas of the Capitol during the session. Lawmakers will have plenty more to say about concealed weapons after the commission finalizes its own plan. In the meantime, they’re busying themselves with new rules concerning media access.
Last month, the Select Committee on Legislative Facilities, Technology and Process advanced a proposal to keep photo and video journalists from using the hallways adjacent to the Senate and House floors.
What are legislators who support this policy — which will be decided by the Legislative Management Council on Nov. 11 — afraid of? And would the public lose if it’s implemented?
The answer to both questions is transparency. Some lawmakers think it’s better to do their work out of the spotlight than to allow media representatives to show the public how legislators work and interact.
There’s no question that restricting photographers to the third-floor gallery above the action in the House and Senate will result in far less interesting and informative images of what’s happening on the floor. Because older white males dominate both chambers, still photos and video images will typically show a sea of pale bald heads.
As the possessor of such a head, I guarantee you that’s a sight no one really needs or wants to see.
The much higher quality of images that can be obtained by taking photos at eye-level isn’t a sufficient reason alone to allow professionals to show their readers/viewers how legislators conduct themselves in the “People’s House.”
But the old adage about a picture being worth a thousand words is often true. My days as a Wyoming Tribune Eagle photographer at the Capitol were long ago, and I enjoyed the chance to depict what was going on behind the scenes in ways I couldn’t always capture with my pen.
The best result I ever had was a series of photos during an emotionally exhausting late-night session when the Legislature killed a bill to create a medical school at the University of Wyoming. It stretched past midnight, and my final photo was of a legislator looking at his sleepy young daughter valiantly trying to stay awake on a couch off the House floor.
That image was only captured because of the access the media had in the chamber’s corridors. It captured the human element of the legislative process on a stressful, historic day.
The excuses being used to restrict press access are lame. Legislative Services Office Director Matt Obrecht told the committee “with the amount of traffic in those hallways … it’s just not a place for photographers.” In reality, the hallways are relatively quiet, with photographers respecting both the work spaces of each other and lawmakers.
Rep. Dan Zwonitzer (R-Cheyene), part of the 4-2 majority that sent the plan to the Management Council, claimed because everything being said at the microphones are captured by audio and video, “You don’t need that same [hallway] access because it is much more transparent.”
Yes, video and audio technology improved. But everything the public sees and hears is controlled by the Legislature, not independent observers. That’s a lot of power given to the government to decide how what’s happening is presented to voters.
I share the concerns of Darcie Hoffland, executive director of the Wyoming Press Association. “It has been the role of the fourth estate to report on the work being done for the people of Wyoming by their legislators,” she wrote in an email to WyoFile. “To limit or revoke access sets a dangerous precedent not only for the Wyoming Legislature itself, but for local government agencies to follow suit.”
Times have indeed changed, to the detriment of legislative transparency. Until 2013, credentialed Wyoming journalists could work at tables on the Senate and House floors. They received memos and proposed amendments at the same time lawmakers did, so they could track bills as they were debated. If reporters had questions, they had easy access to legislative leaders’ offices off the hallways. It improved the quality, accuracy and comprehensiveness of news outlets’ coverage.
Legislative leaders justified removing the press tables 11 years ago by claiming more space was needed for staff. I don’t disagree that quarters were tight, but I don’t think the only viable solution was to boot the working press to the gallery.
During the Capitol’s renovation, officials closed the third floor media office shared by newspapers, radio, TV, WyoFile and wire service reporters. One of the things that made it a great working environment was that every legislator and lobbyist knew where to go to deliver their take on the daily grind of the session. The media plays a vital role in watching what transpires at the Capitol and informing the public.
Now the press room is in the basement, in the corridor between the Capitol and Herschler Building. After more than 40 years covering the Legislature, I know there are always lawmakers who would be overjoyed to boot the media right out the door.
But the Capitol isn’t just home to legislators, or people who want to pack heat while roaming the halls. The Management Council should reject the proposal to keep photojournalists from the space where they have the best opportunity to document what our lawmakers are doing.
If you’re planning on visiting Wyoming, for a truly authentic experience, you must include at least one of the state’s awesome downtowns in your travel plans. Positioned at the southern end of the 60-mile-long valley known as Jackson Hole, the character-rich town of Jackson is one such place to consider. A wonderful place to explore on foot, Jackson’s unique downtown, with its Old West vibe, spreads out from the intersection of Broadway and Cache Street. While it consists of just a few blocks, it is jam-packed with fun things to do, no matter what time of year you visit. Its impressive elk arch makes for an excellent photo opportunity, while the charm of its Old West heritage exudes from the historic buildings, cowboy-themed bars, and art installations across town. The wild past also comes to life in Jackson during the Jackson Hole Shootout at the Town Square, a tradition that has endured since 1957.
Town Square And The Elk Antler Arches
Though Jackson’s Central Park is officially known as George Washington Memorial Park, locals and visitors alike prefer to call it Town Square. Dedicated in 1934, this centrally located public space occupies the block at Broadway and Cache and is famous for the elk antler archers set at each of its corners.
Made entirely from naturally shed elk antlers, the first arch was erected by local Boy Scouts and Rotary Club members in 1953, with the other three added a few years later. Each consists of around 2,000 antlers collected from the nearby National Elk Refuge and is among the most photographed landmarks in Wyoming.
For a truly memorable experience, try to time a visit to coincide with ELKFEST. Held in May, this community-wide celebration attracts visitors from across the country for events like the Mountain Man Rendezvous, a reenactment of the state’s early fur trading years.
The main event, though, is the highly anticipated Elk Antler Auction. Bidders from far and wide turn up at Town Square to purchase antlers, which are then used to make everything from furniture to jewelry (proceeds going back to the Elk Refuge).
Jackson’s Cowboy Heritage
From Memorial Day through Labor Day, Town Square becomes the backdrop of the famous Jackson Hole Shootout. This fun (and free) mock gunfight has been entertaining visitors since 1957 and includes several costumed outlaws and lawmen shooting it out (with blanks, of course). You can add to the experience by hopping aboard the Jackson Hole Stagecoach, a ride aboard a century-old coach that loops around downtown.
The Old West theme is evident in other spots around the downtown core, too. Steps from Town Square, the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar has been around since 1937 and is set in what was once the town’s first bank in the late 1890s. Highlights include its hand-carved bar top with silver dollars embedded in it, as well as its cool saddle barstools. Live music is regularly scheduled on the stage that has seen such legends as Willie Nelson and Hank Williams Jr. perform.
The Wort Hotel is another downtown landmark you’ll want to include in your Jackson itinerary. A local fixture since 1941, it’s here you’ll find the famous Silver Dollar Bar with its custom-made S-shaped counter inlaid with 2,032 uncirculated (and therefore rare) 1921 silver dollars. You’ll also want to check out its priceless collection of original Western art.
Other Fun Stuff To Do In Downtown Jackson
In addition to its iconic bars, downtown Jackson also boasts a world-class food scene. Highlights include Persephone Bakery, its old-fashioned stone hearth turning out delicious baked goods, including croissants and artisanal bread. Also yummy, Cafe Genevieve occupies an old log cabin and serves breakfast and lunch with a Southern-inspired menu.
Jackson’s art scene is also worth a mention. Art galleries are plentiful in the downtown area, with establishments like Astoria Fine Art and Mountain Trails Galleries, both on Town Square, featuring works by local, national, and international artists. The Center for the Arts is another cultural high point and features performance spaces, visual arts studios, and an outdoor sculpture park.
Snow King Mountain
Another unique feature of Jackson’s downtown is its proximity to some of Wyoming’s best (and certainly most accessible) ski hills. The base of Snow King Mountain is just six blocks from Town Square and has been in use since 1936, and really took off when Wyoming’s first chairlift opened here in 1946.
Dubbed the “Town Hill” by locals, Snow King now consists of 500 skiable acres, 41 named runs, three chairlifts, an eight-passenger gondola, and night skiing. In warmer months, the action shifts to a thrilling Cowboy Coaster, a zipline, a treetop adventure ropes course, and an alpine slide.
The Snow King Observatory and Planetarium is another excuse to head for the hills from downtown Jackson. Located at the summit of Snow King Mountain, in addition to its large telescope, this must-see attraction features a planetarium theater and a rooftop observation deck boasting incredible views over Jackson and the Jackson Hole Valley.
Explore Jackson’s Not-So-Wild Side
Downtown Jackson has so much to offer visitors seeking an authentic slice of Wyoming life. From its unique elk antler arches to its art galleries and cowboy culture, as well as its unique position steps from the ski hills, few towns in the USA’s Mountain Region can match the long list of fun things to do in Jackson’s downtown core.
The expansion would open the spigot for 550,000 barrels per day of crude, the company says. Although the crude would mostly pass through eastern Wyoming, the venture opens opportunities for Wyoming oil producers in the region for more transportation access to U.S. refineries and shipping ports, according to Bridger and local industry officials.“It would be the biggest project in our history, if it comes to fruition,” Bridger Pipeline spokesperson Bill Salvin told WyoFile on Friday. “We are, however, in the really early stages of the project. But we’re very excited about it.”Industry trade groups speculate the Bridger Pipeline Expansion is part of a competitive scramble to fill a gap left by TC Energy’s Keystone XL project. That company, in 2021, abandoned the controversial project in the face of major opposition and protests. It would have transported Canadian tar-sands oil into the U.S. market via a route extending through Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. Among many challenges for Keystone XL was acquiring new rights-of-way easements. Though the Bridger Pipeline Expansion proposal requires some new rights-of-way, that’s not the case for the 210-mile Wyoming segment, according to Salvin.“All of that distance is within, or parallel to, existing pipeline corridors,” Salvin said.
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The Wyoming segment would pass through Crook, Weston, Niobrara, Goshen and Platte counties.Bridger Pipeline, a subsidiary of Casper-based True Companies, submitted a notice of intent to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality in January and noted it will formally initiate environmental applications to the agency. Salvin told WyoFile he’s uncertain about the full spectrum of regulatory requirements in Wyoming.However, the company regards the Cowboy State as a great fit for the project, he said. “This [project proposal] just highlights how important the region is and how Wyoming is a very good place for energy projects like this.”Reached for comment, the Petroleum Association of Wyoming said the proposed pipeline only stands to benefit Wyoming producers and the state.“Investments like these, along with continued growth in areas like the Powder River Basin, show Wyoming will continue to play an important role in the nation’s energy markets,” PAW Vice President and Director of Communications Ryan McConnaughey told WyoFile. “Connecting in Guernsey allows product to be transported to refining hubs like Cushing, Oklahoma.” WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy.
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LARAMIE — Nasir Meyer converted a three-point play with 35 seconds remaining to give Wyoming Cowboys men’s basketball the lead for good, and Wyoming held Air Force Falcons men’s basketball scoreless over the final two minutes to secure a 66-62 victory Saturday night.
The win marked the 13th home victory of the season for Wyoming, which improved to 16-13 overall and 7-11 in conference play.
“Air Force deserves all the credit and let’s talk about a team that has every reason not to fight, but thats why they are Air Force and the cadets and I have a lot of respect for them,” Wyoming coach Sundance Wicks said. “They were not going to quit, and I didn’t drive that message home enough and hats off to Air Force because they deserved to win. We snuck away with a win. Adam Harakow showed when we need him and he was massive for us. Simm-Marten was made big plays and Naz was clutch for us late.”
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Wyoming shot 35% from the field and went 7 of 28 from 3-point range, making just two from beyond the arc in the second half. Air Force shot 49% overall and 44% from 3, hitting eight shots from long distance. The Cowboys made 13 of 16 free throws (81%) and scored 22 points off 15 Air Force turnovers while holding a 39-36 edge in rebounding.
Damarion Dennis led Wyoming with 16 points and three assists, going 7 of 8 from the free-throw line. Meyer finished with 14 points and tied a career best with eight rebounds. Adam Harakow added 14 points off the bench on 5-of-6 shooting, his first double-figure scoring game since the first meeting with Air Force. Simm-Marten Saadi had nine points in 13 minutes, and Kiani Saxon grabbed seven rebounds.
Air Force opened with back-to-back 3-pointers to take a 6-0 lead. Meyer scored Wyoming’s first basket, and Leland Walker added a 3-pointer to make it 8-5 with 16 minutes left in the first half.
Wyoming responded with a 9-0 run over nearly four minutes, with Saadi and Harakow each connecting from beyond the arc to give the Cowboys an 11-8 lead with under 14 minutes remaining. Air Force regained a 12-11 advantage as Wyoming went scoreless for more than two minutes.
Harakow’s second 3-pointer pushed the lead to 22-16 with nine minutes left in the half, and Wyoming used a 6-0 run while holding the Falcons without a field goal for more than four minutes to build a 28-18 lead with six minutes remaining. The Cowboys closed the half on a defensive stand, keeping Air Force scoreless for the final two minutes to take a 35-25 lead into the break. Wyoming scored 15 first-half points off turnovers.
The teams traded 3-pointers early in the second half, and Air Force cut the deficit to 40-31 with under 17 minutes left before trimming it to seven 90 seconds later. Walker answered with a 3-pointer to make it 43-33 with 15 minutes to go.
Air Force used a 9-0 run during a stretch in which Wyoming went more than 3 1/2 minutes without a point to pull within one with nine minutes left. The Falcons later tied the game at 51-51 with 5:30 remaining after forcing six straight missed shots.
A pair of free throws by Meyer and a basket from Saadi gave Wyoming a 57-53 lead with under four minutes to play. Air Force answered with three consecutive 3-pointers from Kam Sanders to take a 62-59 lead with two minutes left.
Meyer scored with 90 seconds remaining to cut the deficit to one. On the next trip, he converted an and-one to give Wyoming a 64-62 lead with 35 seconds left. The Cowboys added late free throws to close out the 66-62 win.
Sanders led Air Force with 16 points and nine rebounds, going 4 of 5 from 3-point range. Eli Robinson added 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting.
Wyoming closes its home schedule Tuesday against Nevada Wolf Pack men’s basketball at 8 p.m. as part of a doubleheader with the Cowgirls.
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