Gun-Free Zones Turn Innocents into Targets: Wyoming Leaders Fight to Arm Citizens and Protect Public Safety

Gun-free zones are a magnet for madmen intent on causing harm. Wyoming State Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder and State Auditor Kristi Racines have taken a bold and necessary step by proposing an amendment to allow all citizens to carry concealed firearms on state property, including areas of the State Capitol. 

Their initiative to repeal the 2001 Executive Order that prohibits executive branch employees and officials from carrying weapons on state premises is crucial in enhancing public safety and upholding the rights of law-abiding citizens.

The reality is that gun-free zones often serve as attractive targets for criminals rather than providing safety. These areas essentially create “soft targets”—places where evildoers know they are unlikely to face armed resistance. 

Criminals intent on harming are fully aware that they can carry out attacks in these zones without encountering armed opposition. In contrast, the deterrent effect is significant when responsible citizens are allowed to carry firearms. Knowing that a good guy with a gun may be prepared to spray down a bad guy with a lead shower will make a criminal think twice.

It’s common sense that an armed citizenry can respond quicker to threats, even before law enforcement arrives. Police officers cannot be everywhere simultaneously. Often, the first responders are the people present at the scene. 

Wyoming has long been a state that values individual liberty and personal responsibility. The push to extend concealed carry rights on state property reflects these values and aligns with the state’s stance on constitutional carry, which was approved in 2011. 

Since that time, Wyoming has recognized that law-abiding citizens should not have to ask permission from the government to exercise their Second Amendment rights. This extension of rights to state property is a powerful step, empowering citizens to take responsibility for their own safety and the safety of others, aligning with Wyoming’s core values.

Data consistently show that law-abiding citizens who carry concealed firearms are less likely to commit crimes than the general population. Furthermore, states with constitutional carry laws have not seen a rise in gun violence or reckless behavior. Instead, they have empowered citizens to take responsibility for their own safety and the safety of others.

Critics often argue that more guns lead to more violence, but this argument ignores the fundamental difference between law-abiding citizens and criminals. Criminals will find ways to obtain and use firearms, regardless of the law. 

Gun-free zones don’t stop them- they only disarm potential victims. By allowing constitutional carry on state property, Wyoming sends a clear message that it trusts its citizens to act responsibly and will not create environments where criminals can thrive.