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Wyoming Senate Approves Bill Repealing Most Gun Free Zones

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Wyoming Senate Approves Bill Repealing Most Gun Free Zones


The Wyoming Senate has signed off on a bill to repeal most gun-free zones.

The Wyoming House has already approved House Bill 172. The bill would allow people to carry firearms into governmental meetings and buildings, public schools, college campuses and most other areas that can now be classified as gun-free zones.

That would include the state Capitol Building and meetings of the legislature and city and county governmental buildings across the state

While anyone who can legally carry firearms under Wyoming law could carry a concealed weapon into some of those areas, because of federal law a person would need a concealed firearms permit to carry a gun into public schools or college campuses.

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Amendment To Let School Boards Decide Put Forward

On Friday, Sen.  Brian Boner put forward an amendment that would allow local school boards to decide whether to allow members of the public to carry guns into schools, assuming they are permit holders. His proposal would not prevent school staff from carrying guns in school.

Boner pointed put that school boards can already decide whether to allow district employees to carry guns. His proposal would have extended that decision making authority to being over the public as well.

But Sen. Tim Salazar [R-Fremont County] argued the amendment would effectively kill the bill. Sen. John Kolb [ R-Sweetwater County] said ”This bill is basically to put doubt in people’s heads that they can go in there and kill folks within our schools with impunity. This is the unknown, that there may be someone in there with concealed carry.” He said the amendment would kill a critical part of the bill.

Boner’s amendment was defeated 18-13.

The bill was approved on a 25-6 vote, Here is how they voted:

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Ayes: Barlow, Boner, Brennan, Cooper, Crago, Crum, Dockstader, Driskill, French, Hicks, Hutchings, Ide, Jones, Kolb, Laursen, McKeown, Landen, Nethercott, Olsen, Pearson, Salazar, Scott, Smith, Steinmetz, Biteman
Nays: Anderson, Case, Gierau, Pappas, Rothfuss, Schuler

The bill has now been sent back to the House to allow Representatives to decide whether to approve changes in the bill made by the Senate. If the House doesn’t concur, a Joint Conference Committee would try to hammer out a compromise that both houses of the legislature would support,

Governor Mark Gordon  vetoed a very similar bill last year, citing concerns over local control. Under Wyoming law the governor is not allowed to say whether he would veto a bill that is pending in the legislature.

Laramie County’s Most Wanted Fugitives

Gallery Credit: Joy Greenwald

 

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Search for fugitive wanted for child-sex crimes leaves Wyoming town on alert

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Search for fugitive wanted for child-sex crimes leaves Wyoming town on alert


With a population under 600, Byron, Wyo., is generally a quiet town. In recent weeks, streets have been even quieter as both local and federal law enforcement search for 39-year-old fugitive Anthony Pease, who is wanted for six counts of sexual assault involving a minor.

Authorities have been searching the area for weeks, and a reward for information leading to an arrest now sits at $2,000.

See how the search impacts the town:

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Search for fugitive wanted for child sex crimes leaves Wyoming town on alert

Saturday morning, law enforcement shared there was a confirmed sighting of Pease near town and reminded residents to remain vigilant by locking their doors and reporting suspicious activity. According to Wyoming’s Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office, before the weekend sighting, Pease hasn’t been seen since Nov. 1.

The Big Horn County Schools Superintendent, Matt Davidson, told MTN News a school resource officer on staff stays up to date with the latest on search efforts, and some parents say they’ve been keeping their kids indoors when they’re not at school.

As the search continues, the mayor as well as some residents, say they are taking law enforcement’s advice while keeping a watchful eye.

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“I never used to lock my house during the day. I didn’t even lock my vehicles at night. In fact, a lot of the time I’d leave the keys in them. I’ve talked to other people and there is quite a few people that are nervous. I would hope that a lot of us are nervous because this is a bad thing,” said Byron Mayor Allan Clark.

In fact, investigators could be seen around Byron knocking on doors and scanning land outside of town.

“There’s just so much area and a low population, so much area for him to hide and seek shelter,” Clark said.

With so many wide-open spaces and abandoned buildings in the area, Clark understands why the search has gone on so long.

According to the US Marshals Service, Pease is 5 feet 11 inches tall and may also be going by the name Abraham. They also ask that anyone nearby who has a collection of silver dollars to ensure they are still there, and if not, to report to authorities.

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Marshals say Pease is considered dangerous, and the public is told to not approach him and instead call 9-1-1. As the search has stretched over six weeks, many residents hope a capture will bring life back to normal.

“I hope that they capture him soon, and I hope that us as community members and around the area keep our eyes open and report anything suspicious,” said Clark.





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Five takeaways from the Wyoming Legislature’s budget hearings

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Five takeaways from the Wyoming Legislature’s budget hearings





Five takeaways from the Wyoming Legislature’s budget hearings – County 17





















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Shoshoni youth sets new world record with largemouth bass catch

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Shoshoni youth sets new world record with largemouth bass catch


SHOSHONI, Wyo. — A 12-year-old boy from Shoshoni is now the proud holder of the Junior 4-pound Line Class world record for bass after netting a 2-pound, 4-ounce largemouth in August. The boy, coincidentally with the last name Bass, caught the fish at Lake Cameahwait.

According to a release from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Tucker Bass and his father were fishing over the lake on a two-person kayak when the young angler reeled in the record fish. He did so on a rod and reel given to him by his grandfather.

Bass is the first Wyoming resident to hold a world record in any category for largemouth. The International Game and Fish Association oversees all world records for fishing and officially approved Bass’s catch in November.

Wyoming’s state record largemouth was caught in 2018 near Sheridan. A comprehensive list of all Wyoming record fish can be found here.

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“This is an exceptional accomplishment for a young angler,” WGF Lander Region fisheries supervisor Joe Deromedi said in the release. “Tucker’s record highlights not only his skill and dedication, but also the quality fishing opportunities we have in central Wyoming. It’s always exciting to see youth developing a lifelong passion for fishing.”

Bass, an avid fisherman, also earned Trophy Angler status in the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s Master Angler program in August.

For more information on Tucker Bass’s record catch, see the Wyoming Game and Fish website.

Junior Line class 4-pound world record-holder Tucker Bass (WGF Department)

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