Wyoming Constitutional Carry Laws

8 min readJun 21, 2024

Legal information provided is for reference and not legal advice. Consult an attorney for specific legal concerns.

Wyoming Gun Control Laws Overview

Wyoming gun control laws are among the least restrictive in the United States, placing few obstacles to gun ownership and purchase. In 2021, Wyoming ranked 5th highest in gun death rate among the states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Nearly half of firearm-related deaths in the U.S. come from suicide, and four in ten come from homicide.

Wyoming seeks to balance individual rights to bear arms set forth in the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution with legitimate public safety concerns. It must also comply with federal firearm restrictions, including prohibitions on ownership or possession of firearms by individuals under indictment for or convicted of a felony, those convicted of a misdemeanor domestic violence offense, and those currently subject to a domestic violence protection order.

👆 Click to get your CCW permit online in just minutes!

Wyoming Gun Control Laws

Every state has its own gun control laws that restrict the purchase and use of firearms. Wyoming, known as the Cowboy State, has relatively lenient gun control laws:

No License Required: Wyoming law does not require a license, permit, or registration to buy or own a firearm.
Minimum Age: The minimum age to buy a long gun (rifle or shotgun) is 18, and the minimum age to buy a handgun (pistol or revolver) is 21.

Permitless Carry

Residents: Wyoming adopted a permitless carry law for residents in 2011, allowing those who would qualify for a concealed carry permit to carry without a permit.
Non-Residents: This law was expanded in 2021 to cover otherwise qualified non-residents.
Concealed Firearms Permit (CFP): The state maintains a CFP for residents seeking reciprocity in other states. A state permit also lets permit holders forego an otherwise required background check when purchasing a new firearm from a federally licensed dealer.

Obtaining a Concealed Firearms Permit

Authority: The Wyoming Attorney General’s office issues permits. To apply for a CFP, contact your local sheriff’s office. The sheriff then forwards your permit application to the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) for review and background check.
“Shall Issue” State: Wyoming is a “shall issue” state, meaning that if you meet all the objective eligibility criteria, they must issue the concealed handgun permit.
Validity: Permits remain valid for five years. The state can pursue revocation if a permittee becomes ineligible in the future.

Prohibited Locations for Firearms

Wyoming law includes a list of prohibited locations where carrying a firearm is not allowed:

Facilities used primarily for law enforcement or by a law enforcement agency
Detention facilities, prisons, or jails
Courtrooms (unless excepted by the judge)
Meetings of governmental entities
Meetings of the legislature or its committees
School, college, or professional athletic events not related to firearms
Places that sell liquor for consumption on premises
Elementary and secondary schools
College or university facilities (unless with consent of their security)

Other Regulations

Assault Weapons and Ghost Guns: Wyoming law does not regulate the possession of assault weapons or ghost guns, which are firearms that can be assembled from a kit or through the use of a 3D printer.
Background Checks: No background checks are mandated for purchasing a gun through a private sale.
Waiting Period: There is no waiting period from the time of purchase to the time of delivery when buying a firearm.
State Preemption Law: Wyoming bans local authorities from passing stricter gun laws than the state.
Firearms Manufactured in Wyoming: A state law provides that firearms manufactured and not leaving Wyoming in interstate commerce do not fall under federal regulations, though this law has never been tested in court.

Relevant Statutes

Wyoming’s gun laws can be found in Wyoming Statutes, Title 6, Chapter 8, Sections 6–8–101 through 6–8–406, and Title 21, Chapter 8, Section 21–3–132:

Use or possession of a firearm by a person convicted of certain felony offenses — Section 6–8–102
Wearing or carrying concealed weapons — Section 6–8–104
Regulation of firearms — Section 6–8–404
Possession of firearms on school property — Section 21–3–132

Prohibited Firearms

Wyoming does not prohibit specific firearms but bans the use of a fully automatic weapon to take wildlife under its hunting regulations.

Waiting Period

Wyoming has no waiting period for purchasing a firearm.

Restrictions on Gun Ownership

Wyoming law provides that a person cannot possess a firearm if they:

Have previously pleaded guilty to or been convicted of committing or attempting to commit a violent felony (except in situations where they received a pardon or had rights restored under the law)
Have previously pleaded guilty to or been convicted of committing or attempting to commit a nonviolent felony (except in situations where they received a pardon or had rights restored under the law)

Federal law provides that a person cannot possess a firearm if they:

Have been convicted of any felony in any state, territory, or other jurisdiction of the United States
Are a fugitive from justice
Are an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance
Have been adjudicated to be mentally defective or been committed to any mental institution
Are an illegal noncitizen
Have been discharged from the military under dishonorable conditions
Have renounced U.S. citizenship
Are subject to a court order restraining them from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner or child of an intimate partner
Have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence

Concealed Carry License Requirements

Wyoming issues concealed carry permits, but they are not required for a Wyoming resident or lawful U.S. citizen to carry a concealed firearm. If a resident is eligible for a permit, they may carry a concealed firearm without a permit. Permits are still available for residents who wish to be able to carry a concealed firearm in states that recognize Wyoming permits.

Open Carry

Open carry is legal in Wyoming, and no permit or license is required to open carry.

Eligibility for a Concealed Carry License

To be eligible for a concealed carry permit in Wyoming, a person must:

Be a resident of the United States and have been a resident of Wyoming for at least six months
Be at least 21 years of age
Not suffer from a physical infirmity which prevents the safe handling of a firearm
Not be ineligible to possess a firearm under federal or Wyoming law
Not have been committed to a state or federal facility for the abuse of a controlled substance within one year before applying for the permit
Not have been convicted of a felony violation of the Wyoming Controlled Substances Act or similar laws of any other state or the United States
Not have been convicted of a misdemeanor violation of the Wyoming Controlled Substances Act or similar laws of any other state or the United States relating to controlled substances within one year before applying for the permit
Not chronically or habitually use alcohol to the extent that the person’s normal faculties are impaired
Demonstrate familiarity with a firearm through completion of a firearm safety or training course, law enforcement experience, experience competing in organized handgun shooting competitions, or military service
Not be currently adjudicated to be legally incompetent
Not have been committed to a mental institution

Machine Gun Laws

Wyoming has no laws prohibiting the ownership or possession of machine guns, except in state game fields or forests. However, federal prohibitions may apply.

Penalties for Illegal Firearm Possession

Wyoming has few prohibitions against gun possession, but its gun laws do include potential prison time.

Possessing a concealed deadly weapon without a permit or other exception is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in prison; a fine of $750; or both. A second or subsequent offense is a felony, punishable by up to two years in prison; a fine of up to $2,000; or both.
Possessing a firearm while having a previous violent felony conviction is a felony, punishable by up to three years in prison; a fine of up to $5,000; or both.
Possessing a firearm while having a previous nonviolent felony conviction is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail; a fine of up to $750; or both.

Penalties for Illegal Possession on or Near School Grounds

Wyoming does not have a general criminal offense against possessing firearms on school grounds. However, a person who qualifies to carry a concealed weapon under state law cannot carry a concealed firearm onto the campus of an elementary or secondary school. School boards can also issue regulations to address concealed carry by school employees on campus.

Red Flag Law

Wyoming does not have a red flag law.

Universal Background Checks

Wyoming does not have universal background checks.

Stand Your Ground Law

Wyoming law provides that a person who is attacked at any place where the person is lawfully present shall not have a duty to retreat before using reasonable defensive force as long as they are not the initial aggressor or engaged in any illegal activity.

Note

State laws are always subject to change through the passage of new legislation, rulings in the higher courts that include federal decisions, ballot initiatives, and other means. While we strive to provide the most current information available, please consult an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the status of the state law(s) you are reviewing.

Related Resources

Federal Firearms Prohibitions
National Firearms Act
Gun Laws
Domestic Violence and Firearms
Wyoming Law

Additional Legal Assistance

Navigating the different restrictions between federal and state gun laws can be difficult. As these laws vary from state to state, a Wyoming gun owner may also want information