Gun Bill

Wyoming lawmakers have proposed a new bill that, if passed, would nullify any federal restrictions on guns, threatening to jail federal agents attempting to confiscate guns, ammunition magazines or ammunition.
The bill – HB0104 – states that “any federal law which attempts to ban a semi-automatic firearm or to limit the size of a magazine of a firearm or other limitation on firearms in this state shall be unenforceable in Wyoming.”
The bill is sponsored by eight Wyoming state representatives ad two state senators. If passed, the bill would declare any federal gun regulation created on or after January 1, 2013 to be unenforceable within the state.
In addition, the bill states would charge federal officials attempting to enforce a federal gun law within the state with a felony – “subject to imprisonment for not more less than one (1) year and one (1) day or more than five (5) years, a fine of not more than two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) five thousand dollars ($5,000.00), or both.”
The bill also allows the Attorney General of Wyoming to defend a state citizen from any prosecution by the United States Government.
One of the bill’s co-sponsors, Wyoming State Senator Larry Hicks, told The Washington Examiner that this type of legislation sends a message to the federal government in Washington D.C.
“It says that your one size fits all solution doesn’t comport to what a vast majority of the state believes,” Hicks explained in an interview.Citing the Tenth and the Second Amendments, Hicks asserted that the legislation was Constitutional, adding that he fully expected it to pass in the Wyoming state legislature. Hicks said that his Wyoming constituents were upset about the looming threat of gun control coming from Washington, particularly since Vice President Biden signaled yesterday that President Obama was willing to issue an executive order to tackle the gun issue.

Retiring county officers receive special awards

Two sheriff’s officers received special recognition at a ceremony in Rock Springs on December 28th. Detective Dick Blust, Jr. says that Major Dennis Claman was presented with the Sheriff’s Office Distinguished Service Medal and Undersheriff Craig Jackson with the Meritorious Service Medal by Sweetwater County Sheriff Rich Haskell. Both men retired at the end of December.






Claman joined the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office in 1991, where he served first as a detective, followed by a promotion to detective Sergeant. He was promoted again to the rank of major, in command of the Operations Division, in 2007. In addition, he rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Wyoming Army National Guard.






He also served for six years with the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office in Cheyenne, where he earned an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice at Laramie County Community College. He joined the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office in 1992. In his 20 years with the Sheriff’s Office, C.J. was a patrol deputy sheriff, a drug task force special agent, a detective, and, from 2007 through 2012, served as Undersheriff of Sweetwater County.

Wyoming lawmakers push gun control exemption

Some Wyoming lawmakers are pushing to pre-empt any federal crackdown on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines in the aftermath of last month's school shooting in Connecticut. A bill pending in the Wyoming Legislature would specify any federal limitation on guns would be unenforceable. It also would make it a state felony for federal agents to try to enforce such regulations. Vice President Joe Biden is set to deliver gun control proposals to President Obama on Tuesday. Sponsor Rep. Kendell Kroeker, an Evansville Republican, says state lawmakers have a responsibility to oppose any federal law or order that violates the U.S. Constitution. Rep. James Byrd, a Democrat from Cheyenne, opposes the legislation. He says Wyoming is bound to lose if it forces a legal showdown over guns with the federal government.

2012 was driest, warmest on record in Wyoming

It's now official: 2012 was the driest and warmest year in Wyoming in 118 years. The National Weather Service says the statewide average precipitation for the year was 8.08 inches, shattering the 1988 record. The average statewide temperature was 45.6 degrees, 5.1 degrees above the 20th century average. The previous warmest year on record was 1934. Nationally, 2012's drought was the worst since the 1950s and slightly behind the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. The latest U.S. Drought Monitor shows worsening drought conditions across east central Wyoming and some improvement in the far west. Exceptional drought conditions persist in most of Goshen, Niobrara and Weston counties and parts of Converse, Campbell and Sweetwater counties. Drought conditions are expected to continue through March in areas rated as having moderate or worse conditions.

Laramie gives up on delayed July 4th fireworks

Laramie has given up on rescheduling last year's Fourth of July fireworks. The display was postponed in July because of extreme fire danger and dry conditions. A wildfire had started days before near Lake Owen. The city had planned to hold the fireworks display later in the year, perhaps around Christmas or New Year's. But that didn't happen because dry conditions persisted into December. Then, after snow began to fall, officials were concerned about whether firework technicians would be able to travel to Wyoming. Assistant City Manager Dave Derragon said most of the $16,000 set aside for the display will be used for this year's Fourth of July fireworks - unless high fire danger cancels that display too.

Judge transfers wolf case to Wyoming from Colo.

A lawsuit filed by a coalition of environmental groups challenging the federal government's decision to transfer wolf management to the state of Wyoming should be heard in the state, a federal judge has ruled. Senior U.S. District Judge John L. Kane of Colorado issued an order Wednesday granting a joint request from the federal government and the state of Wyoming to move the case from federal court in Colorado to federal court in Wyoming. The eight environmental groups filed suit in November claiming that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service violated the federal Endangered Species Act when it ended federal protections for wolves in Wyoming last fall. The groups maintain Wyoming's management plan classifying wolves as predators that can be shot on sight in most of the state is inadequate.

January Hunting Season Meetings

GREEN RIVER—Wildlife managers with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department are seeking the public’s help in developing the 2013 hunting seasons. Green River Wildlife Supervisor Steve DeCecco says there will be four public meetings in southwest Wyoming and regional staff is hoping to hear from as many people as possible. “We invite anyone interested in hunting and wildlife management to attend one of the four information gathering meetings in preparation for the 2013 season-setting process,” DeCecco said. “This is the second year we have held these meetings earlier in the annual hunting season setting cycle. We have committed to gathering public input prior to season development to provide a more meaningful and timely dialog with the public, well in advance of drafting 2013 seasons. This is an opportunity for sportsmen to share any information, observations, or ideas you think would be valuable in developing 2013 hunting season proposals.” Meetings will be held at the following locations:
Monday, January 14: Green River, Green River Region Game and Fish Office, 6:30 PM Tuesday, January 15: Baggs, Valley Community Center, 6:30 PM
Wednesday, January 16: Kemmerer, Lincoln County Public Library, 6:30 PM
Thursday, January 17: Evanston, Uinta County Library/ Bridger Carter room, 6:30 PM