House committee OKs concealed-weapons bill
February 11, 2011 by bill.mccarthy
Filed under Recent Posts
House Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee [51:52m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | DownloadThe House Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee discussion of Senate File 47, Concealed weapons, is about 52 minutes. The quality of the recording is not great, but voices are clear.
By Bill McCarthy, Cowboy State Free Press
CHEYENNE – A committee voted 8-1 today to send legislation allowing law-abiding Wyoming citizens to carry concealed firearms to the House floor.
“This bill is about a law abiding citizen’s right to carry open or concealed in the state of Wyoming,” said Rep. Lorraine Quarberg, a bill sponsor. “It is very difficult to restore a right that has been taken away.”
But Senate File 47, Concealed weapons, restores a citizens’ right to carry firearms or open or concealed, which have been eroded over time, she said.
The House Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee amended Senate File 47, though, to bar drunks from carrying concealed firearms.
The bill would allow Wyoming citizens to carry concealed guns without a permit. The committee amended the bill to spell out that it is illegal to be drunk and carry a concealed weapon.
“We can support the Second Amendment to carry a weapon and do it in a safe manner,” said Rep. Jon Botten, the committee member who brought the amendment.
The Republican from Sheridan added, “And who among us or anywhere else is going to say, ‘By golly, I have a Second Amendment right to carry my gun drunk.’ If you’re too drunk to drive you’re too drunk for a firearm.”
Prime sponsor of the bill, Sen. Kit Jennings warned the committee, however, that the amendment involves the bill in the ongoing debate about illegal search and seizure.
The amendment ties the bill to the section of Wyoming law that says by the act of driving vehicles, people give consent to be tested for alcohol intoxication
There’s a history of contentious debate over that issue as it applies to drunken-driving enforcement. There is a bill (House Bill 29) that passed the House pending in the Senate that would eliminate the ability of driver to refuse a chemical test of his blood.
Rep. Cathy Connolly attempted to amend the bill to reinsert some original language to add such limits as a minimum age of 21, no history of mental-health problems and demonstrating familiarity with a firearm.
No one would second her amendment.
She was the lone vote against the bill coming out of committee.
Those voting to support the bill were Reps. Del McOmie , R-Lander, Dave Bonner , R-Powell, Jonathan Botten , R – Sheridan, Kathy Davison, R-Kemmerer, Allen Jaggi, R-Lyman, Robert McKim , R- Afton, Ruth Petroff , R-Jackson, Lisa Shepperson , R-Casper.
Senate File 47 must pass three more readings in the House to move on to Gov. Matt Mead for approval. It has passed the Senate.
By Bill McCarthy, Cowboy State Free Press
CHEYENNE – A committee voted 8-1 today to send legislation allowing law-abiding Wyoming citizens to carry concealed firearms to House floor.
“This bill is about a law abiding citizen’s right to carry open or concealed in the state of Wyoming,” said Rep. Lorraine Quarberg, a bill sponsor. “It is very difficult to restore a right that has been taken away.”
But Senate File 47, Concealed weapons, restores a citizens’ right to carry firearms or open or concealed, which have been eroded over time, she said.
The House Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee amended Senate File 47, though, to bar drunks from carrying concealed firearms.
The bill would allow Wyoming citizens to carry concealed guns without a permit. The committee amended the bill to spell out that it is illegal to be drunk and carry a concealed weapon.
“We can support the Second Amendment to carry a weapon and do it in a safe manner,” said Rep. Jon Botten, the committee member who brought the amendment.
The Republican from Sheridan added, “And who among us or anywhere else is going to say, ‘By golly, I have a Second Amendment right to carry my gun drunk.’ If you’re too drunk to drive you’re too drunk for a firearm.”
Prime sponsor of the bill, Sen. Kit Jennings warned the committee, however, that the amendment involves the bill in the ongoing debate about illegal search and seizure.
The amendment ties the bill to the section of Wyoming law that says by the act of driving vehicles, people give consent to be tested for alcohol intoxication
There’s a history of contentious debate over that issue as it applies to drunken-driving enforcement. There is a bill that passed the House pending in the Senate that would eliminate the ability of driver to refuse a chemical test of his blood.
Rep. Cathy Connolly attempted to amend the bill to reinsert some original language to add such limits as a minimum age of 21, no history of mental-health problems and demonstrating familiarity with a firearm.
No one would second her amendment.
She was the lone vote against the bill coming out of committee.
Those voting to support the bill were Reps. Del McOmie , R-Lander, Dave Bonner , R-Powell, Jonathan Botten , R – Sheridan, Kathy Davison, R-Kemmerer, Allen Jaggi, R-Lyman, Robert McKim , R- Afton, Ruth Petroff , R-Jackson, Lisa Shepperson , R-Casper.
Senate File 47 must pass three more readings in the House to move on to Gov. Matt Mead for approval. It has passed the Senate.
