HB0174 amends Wyoming’s concealed carry permit law to change the minimum age for a person to be issued a permit to carry a concealed firearm. The bill revises W.S. 6-8-104(b)(ii) so that a qualified applicant must be at least the age specified in the bill, rather than the prior age requirement, and makes related conforming changes to the permit statute. It also repeals an obsolete subsection, W.S. 6-8-104(j), and sets an effective date of July 1, 2025.
The bill leaves the overall permit framework in place: permits are still issued by the attorney general through the division of criminal investigation, remain valid statewide for five years, and must be carried with identification while the permittee is armed. The measure also retains existing immunity provisions protecting the attorney general, DCI personnel, and certain local law enforcement employees from personal liability related to permit issuance, denial, revocation, and information submitted in the process.
Impact
HB0174 would directly alter Wyoming’s concealed weapons permitting statute by lowering or otherwise adjusting the minimum age requirement for permit eligibility, thereby expanding or changing the pool of residents who may lawfully obtain a concealed carry permit. It also cleans up the statute by removing an obsolete provision and preserving the current administrative and liability structure for permit issuance. The practical effect would be on applicants, the Attorney General’s office, the Division of Criminal Investigation, and local law enforcement agencies that distribute applications and process related information.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee testimony or votes in the provided materials, the bill appears to be a straightforward firearms-policy measure with no documented public debate in the record supplied here. The sponsor list is broad and bipartisan in appearance, suggesting at least some legislative support for the change. No opposing arguments or amendments are reflected in the available context.
Contention
The central policy issue is the age threshold for concealed carry permits, which can be contentious because it balances firearm access against concerns about maturity, training, and public safety. Supporters would likely view the bill as expanding lawful self-defense rights and aligning permit eligibility with broader firearms policy preferences, while critics would likely question whether younger adults should be eligible to carry concealed firearms. No specific objections, supporters, or negotiated compromises are shown in the provided committee or vote history.