Wyoming
Wyoming’s Barrasso, Lummis and Hageman silent on Trump’s threat that a ‘whole civilization will die’ if Iran deal isn’t reached – WyoFile
Wyoming’s federal delegation kept silent Tuesday on President Donald Trump’s threat that a “whole civilization will die tonight” if Iran fails to meet his latest deadline to strike a deal that includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump said late Tuesday he’s pulling back on his threats to launch devastating strikes on Iran, swerving to de-escalate the war less than two hours before the deadline he set for Tehran.
Republican Sens. John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis did not respond to WyoFile’s request for comment, which was made before Trump’s announcement that he was holding off on his threats to attack Iranian bridges, power plants and other civilian targets. Nor did Rep. Harriet Hageman. Additionally, social media accounts for the three lawmakers have not posted any remarks on Trump’s threat that an entire country could be wiped off the map.
A review of the Facebook pages of all three members of Wyoming’s delegation shows they haven’t posted on the war this month, as Trump’s threats escalated.
Wyoming’s congressional delegation has expressed past support for Trump’s decision to attack Iran. Both Barrasso and Lummis voted against an attempt to curb Trump’s war powers. Critics of the war have said the president needed to receive congressional approval before launching operations against Iran.
After the war began, Barrasso lauded the president for “one of the boldest military operations in history.”
“President Trump has the courage to do what is right and what needs to be done,” Barrasso said March 3 on the Senate floor. “Something previous administrations refused to do.”
Hageman also opposed an effort in the House to rein in Trump’s war powers.
“Tehran’s jihadist government is finally faced with the reckoning for hundreds of American casualties killed at the hands of Iran’s savage leadership,” Hageman said in a March 2 statement. “Iran’s history of killing American troops, supporting terrorist networks, and refusal to cooperate in good-faith diplomacy made their nuclear-arms campaign a crusade that must be stopped.”
Iran effectively blocked shipping through the Strait of Hormuz after Israel and the U.S. attacked in February. That, and Iran’s attacks on energy infrastructure of its Gulf Arab neighbors, have sent oil prices skyrocketing, raising the price of gasoline, food and other basics far beyond the Middle East.
Since then, Trump has repeatedly imposed deadlines linked to threats, only to extend them.
Trump said he was holding off on his threatened attacks on Iranian bridges, power plants and other civilian targets, subject to Tehran agreeing to a two-week ceasefire and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the pivotal waterway through which a fifth of the world’s oil is transported during peacetime. He also said Iran has proposed a “workable” 10-point peace plan that could help end the war the U.S. and Israel launched on Feb. 28.
Trump has made reopening the strait part of avoiding wider attacks and suggested that the waterway is not as vital to U.S. oil interests as it is to other countries. He has also said he would be willing to deploy ground troops to seize Iranian oil, while maintaining that major combat operations in that country could soon conclude.
Ahead of Tuesday’s deadline, airstrikes hit two bridges and a train station, and the U.S. hit military infrastructure on Kharg Island. It was the second time American forces struck the island, a key hub for Iranian oil production. It was not clear if the latest airstrikes were linked to Trump’s threats to widen the civilian target list. At least two of the targets were connected to Iran’s rail network, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli warplanes struck bridges and railways in Iran.
Iran’s president said 14 million people, including himself, have volunteered to fight. That’s despite Trump threatening that U.S. forces could wipe out all bridges in Iran in a matter of hours and reduce all power plants to smoking rubble in roughly the same time frame. He also suggested the entire country could be wiped off the map.
Trump has shrugged off concerns about war crime accusations.
“A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again,” if a deal isn’t reached, Trump said in an online post Tuesday morning. But he also seemed to keep open the possibility of an off-ramp, saying that “maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen.”
Earlier, Iranian official Alireza Rahimi issued a video message calling on “all young people, athletes, artists, students and university students and their professors” to form human chains around power plants.
Iranians have formed human chains in the past around nuclear sites at times of heightened tensions with the West. Some images of people surrounding power plants were posted Tuesday by local Iranian media, though how widespread the practice was is unknown.
In Tehran, the mood was bleak. A young teacher said that many opponents of Iran’s Islamic system had hoped Trump’s attacks would quickly topple it.
As the war drags on, she fears U.S. and Israeli strikes will spread chaos.
“If we don’t have the internet, and if we don’t have electricity, water, and gas, we’re really going back to the Stone Age, as Trump said,” she told The Associated Press, speaking on the condition of anonymity for her safety.
More than 1,900 people have been killed in Iran since the war began, but the government has not updated the toll for days.
In Lebanon, where Israel is fighting Iran-backed Hezbollah militants, more than 1,500 people have been killed. and more than 1 million people have been displaced. Eleven Israeli soldiers have died there.
In Gulf Arab states and the occupied West Bank, more than two dozen people have died, while 23 have been reported dead in Israel, and 13 U.S. service members have been killed.
Reporting contributed by The Associated Press. Jon Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Mike Corder reported from The Hague, Netherlands, and Sam Magdy reported from Cairo. Associated Press writers David Rising in Bangkok; John Leicester in Paris; Rod McGuirk in Melbourne, Australia; Natalie Melzer in Jerusalem; and Seung Min Kim, Michelle Price and Will Weissert in Washington contributed to this report.
Wyomingites love their guns, and many have no qualms about keeping a firearm by their bedsides, in their vehicles and even on their persons, in case any hooligans want to try starting something.
However, experts warn that this isn’t the Wild West any longer. Even in the most justified cases of shooting in self-defense, the shooter will be investigated. And one wrong move or bad decision can land them in big legal trouble, or possibly prison.
And even if somebody who shot in self-defense is cleared of any criminal wrongdoing, they still might face civil actions that could ruin them financially.
In short, the decision to carry a firearm with the intent that you might someday have to use it to save your life or other innocent lives isn’t something to be taken lightly, Casper attorney Ryan Semerad told Cowboy State Daily.
“It’s going to cause an investigation, and the investigation needs to be completed because it’s a hugely consequential matter,” said Semerad, who has defended civilians and law enforcement officers in use of deadly-force cases. “You might have just killed or nearly killed somebody.”
There are also the psychological effects to consider, he added.
“Taking a life is huge. I’ve never met a person who has taken another person’s life who hasn’t been touched by that experience,” Semerad said.
“If you’re not ready for that, don’t put yourself in that situation,” he added.
When To Open Fire
Statutes governing the use of lethal force can vary by state, but there are overarching criteria that apply across the country, said J James Cullers of Casper, a certified trainer with the U.S. Concealed Carry Association (USCCA) and National Rifle Association (NRA).
“You can’t initiate the scenario, you can’t escalate that scenario,” he told Cowboy State Daily.
USCCA lays out four basic rules for legitimate self-defense in most states:
• A reasonable and immediate fear of death or serious bodily harm to yourself or another person.
• The shooter must be an innocent party.
• No lesser use of force is sufficient or available to stop the threat.
• There is no reasonable means of retreat or escape.
Inside people’s homes, Wyoming’s strong “castle doctrine” standard favors residents claiming self-defense, Semerad said.
Wyoming’s justified use of force statute errs on the side of residents assuming that somebody trying to cross their threshold without their blessing means harm.
“A person who unlawfully and by force enters or attempts to enter another’s home or habitation is presumed to be doing so with the intent to commit an unlawful act involving force or violence,” according to the statute.
Even so, blasting away at somebody who is trying to run out your door with your television set would likely not be regarded as justified, Semerad said.
“You’ve got to let them go,” he said.
Outside of the home, matters get more complicated.
Wyoming statute makes it clear that the person who draws and fires can’t have been the initial aggressor in the situation, was where they had a legal right to be, and wasn’t engaged in illegal activity.
Semerad cited a case of a “weed dealer” who had another person threaten to kill him and fired in what he thought was legitimate self-defense.
However, since the dealer was engaged in illegal activity at the time of the shooting, he ended up going to prison, Semerad said.
Likewise, somebody who was trespassing and got into a deadly confrontation wouldn’t be able to claim legitimate self-defense, because they didn’t have a legal right to be where they were when the confrontation occurred, he added.
Situations To Avoid
One rule of concealed carry is to do everything reasonably possible to avoid sketchy places or situations, Cullers said.
“Don’t go down that dark alley (even when armed). If it takes you a little bit longer to walk around the block to your car, then walk around the block and don’t go down the dark alley,” Cullers said.
People who choose to carry firearms should be alert, he added.
“Don’t be walking down the street with your head in your cellphone,” Cullers said
Semerad said people who have had “even one drink” shouldn’t carry their firearms, because that could lead to poor decisions.
Likewise, firearms shouldn’t be present in emotionally fraught situations, he said.
Most assaults and murders don’t result from random law-abiding citizens being attacked by violent strangers, Semerad said.
Rather, they take place between people who know each other well and get into situations where emotions spiraled out of control, such as quarrels over money or romantic jealousy, he said.
Bringing A Knife To A Gunfight
Another common misconception is that it’s not justified or fair to shoot somebody who has only a knife or a club, or perhaps isn’t even armed, Cullers said.
The legal justification for self-defense shootings often hinges upon a disparity of force, he said.
So, for instance, a petite woman might be justified in using a gun if she’s attacked by a huge, strong man, even if he’s unarmed, Cullers said.
And just because somebody has a knife doesn’t mean that they aren’t a deadly threat to somebody with a gun, he said.
Law enforcement data indicates that somebody 21 feet away, or perhaps even 30 feet away, with a knife can be swift and deadly, Cullers said.
It’s commonly known as the “Tueller Drill,” and is a law enforcement training tool, not a legal rule or absolute law.
“Someone with a knife can cover 21 feet in a second and a half. Most people could not draw a weapon and fire to protect themselves in the time it takes the attacker to cover that 21 feet,” he said.
Get Training, Legal Protection
The Wyoming Legislature this year passed a law allowing 18-year-olds to apply for concealed carry permits.
Cullers said that while he’s glad to see more people getting that right, he also stressed the need for proper knowledge and training.
And that should be two-pronged, he said. First, having a clear knowledge of the legal parameters of the use of deadly force. Second, training how to properly carry, draw and accurately fire a sidearm.
Cullers and Semerad said that a firearm should be a tool of last resort. People who wish to defend themselves should consider “less-lethal” options to use first, such as pepper spray, tasers or guns that shoot pepper balls instead of bullets.
“If you can carry a firearm, you can carry pepper spray. And if pepper spray will do the trick, then carry pepper spray,” Semerad said.
Those who choose to carry a firearm for self-defense should be prepared to have a legal defense, if they ever have to use deadly force, Cullers and Semerad said.
Cullers said that USCCA and other organizations, as well as some private law firms, offer self-defense legal insurance for concealed carry permit holders.
That can be particularly handy for people who are cleared of any criminal law violations in a self-defense shooting, but then get slapped with a civil lawsuit, he said.
Semerad said his clients, civilians and law enforcement officers alike, paid a traditional retainer fee.
“Personally, nobody has ever hired me through an insurance company, I don’t know if I would accept that arrangement,” he said.
Mark Heinz can be reached at mark@cowboystatedaily.com.
Wyoming
Forty-six arrested for immigration violations during ‘Truck Around And Find Out’ detail in Wyoming
The Laramie County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) arrested dozens of people during an operation targeting commercial vehicle violations.
On April 25, 2026, LCSO shared details on a recent three-day commercial vehicle operation dubbed “Truck Around And Find Out: Operation Spring Break,” which was conducted in partnership with federal authorities.
During the detail, LCSO made 85 criminal arrests, including 46 arrests for immigration violations.
“Many of these folks are operating without commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs),” said Laramie County Sheriff Brian Kozak. “Unsafe trucks, bald tires, their trucking companies have been revoked or suspended and shouldn’t be operating at all. And so, we’re taking that serious, and we’re trying to help keep our roads safe in this county.”
LCSO said that one of the truck drivers discovered to be present in the U.S. illegally had no CDL and had parked in a spot marked “Absolutely No Truck, Trailer, Or Semi Parking Anytime.”
Kozak said that recent commercial vehicle enforcement operations have lowered the number of fatal crashes in Laramie County. He also said that the county’s violent crime rate is half of the national average.
A previous “Truck Around And Find Out” detail conducted by LCSO in February 2026 resulted in 32 arrests for immigration violations.
Last fall, Kozak and 25 LCSO deputies were sworn in by ICE and authorized to enforce immigration law under Title 8, Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
CODY — A new $20 million, 2,000-acre statewide shooting complex broke ground Saturday south of Cody, with plans to officially open in 2027.
Community members and state representatives have worked on the project since 2022. Once complete, it will be Wyoming’s first-ever statewide shooting complex.
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Wyoming officials break ground on $20 million statewide shooting complex near Cody
The facility will be a first of it’s kind, with 8 different types of firing ranges open to both the public and for regional competitions. Hundreds gathered for the groundbreaking on Saturday, including longtime Cody-area resident Samuel Kuntz.
“I figured this is a historic event and I wanted to be part of it,” Kuntz said Saturday afternoon. “This is fantastic and it will fit right in with the spirit of this community.”
Kuntz said the facility belongs in his home state.
“Shooting is a very big passion of mine,” Kuntz said. “In my opinion, it is paramount to not only being a Wyoming citizen but a U.S. citizen. So, having this wonderful shooting range this close to home is going to be fantastic I am extremely pumped up about it.”
Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon and Wyoming Senator John Barrasso attended the groundbreaking and fired the first two ceremonious shots. The facility is being built on state land and required various legislation to approve $10 million in funding from the government.
MTN NEWS
That lengthy process began with State Senator Larry Hicks, who brought the idea forward four years ago.
“I just authored a bill called the Second Amendment Defense Act,” Hicks said.
That bill, followed by a phone call with the Governor, started the process in 2022. Hicks said it required many different community members and other entities but that he’s proud to see it become a reality because of what it represents.
“Part of it’s our culture, you know?” Hicks said. “Wyoming has the highest gun ownership in the nation. So, it’s consistent with I think the values and the philosophy that I think the vast majority of people in the state of Wyoming share.”
Board member James Klessens was among the many that helped bring the idea to life, focusing on the facility’s potential economic impact.
“The main premise of the project has been economic development,” Klessens said. “It was created to attract more people to the community as tourists, visitors to the community, but we also know that when we host these kind of events that the shooting industry will play closer attention to those communities.”
MTN NEWS
Klessens and Hicks both agreed that the facility could bring other businesses to the area, and with travelers coming from all across the competitions, it could provide a major economic boost.
“Ultimately, I just think this is going to be a win-win for Wyoming,” Hicks said.
Kuntz, and many others, couldn’t agree more.
“Whether it’s for self-defense, hunting or just for fun, it is part of the Wyoming spirit,” Kuntz said.
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