Big Horn County school district trustees consider first draft of gun policy — As written, it follows HB 172 suggestions
GREYBULL — Big Horn County School District No. 3's first draft of a concealed carry policy for its employees and volunteers closely mirrors the recommendations written into House Bill 172, which took effect July 1 following its passage earlier this year by the legislature.
To be eligible to carry, employees or volunteers would have to possess a valid Wyoming concealed carry permit, complete an updated background check and submit an application including their justification for participation and the type of firearm they would carry.
Before receiving authorization, applicants would be required to complete 16 hours of live-fire handgun training along with a minimum of eight hours of scenario-based training using nonlethal firearms and ammunition.
"We are following what the law states. We're not going over it; we're not going under it," Supt. Mark Fritz said during Wednesday night's meeting of the board of trustees.
After the first year, a minimum of 12 hours of training, including live-fire and updated scenario-based sessions, would be required annually along with requalification on firearm proficiency.
The draft policy also states that firearms "must be on the authorized individual's person or in a locked, concealed biometric container or lock box that is secured under district control." The policy continues that a firearm "may only be discharged if the authorized individual reasonably perceives an imminent risk of death or serious bodily harm to themselves or others" and that "use of force must comply with all applicable state and federal laws. Any weapon taken out of the concealed carry holster, except to place in a biometric box, will be reported to administration."
The policy states that employees would be responsible for the cost of their training, but Fritz said the district would gather receipts from them and submit them to the Wyoming Department of Education, which has money to reimburse districts for their costs.
"We don't know how much is going to be in there or how long it’s going to last,” Fritz said.
Students would be prohibited in carrying, possessing or transporting firearms on district property or at school-sponsored events, with violations resulting in disciplinary action, including possible expulsion.
Open carry would continue to be strictly prohibited under the terms of the policy.
Input
At its June meeting, the school board opened a 45-day comment period for members of the public to weigh in. That window was still open when the board met Wednesday night, and several people took advantage of it.
Garrett and Vonnie Thomas, Luke Zeller and Hannah Stinson voiced strong opposition to the new law and the presence of guns in school, while James Morgan took the opposite stance, saying he supports the law and the premise behind it.
Garrett Thomas and Stinson brought toy swords to the meeting. Thomas had asked in ad - vance if he could bring a real one, but was denied.) They wanted to point out the contradiction in the district classifying as dangerous a close-quarters weapon that cannot hurt anyone outside of 6 feet but not a gun that fires bullets.
Thomas, the first to speak, urged the board to “exploit every loophole" and "make it as difficult as possible for someone to unknowingly carry a gun around our children." He said if that can't be done, he’d like to see those carrying concealed weapons to sit in a special section of the bleachers at school events.
“Cheyenne is trying to take power away from us at a local level. Don't allow them to — not without a fight. This law repeals decades of peace Greybull schools have had with gun violence and harm caused by routing gun handling and maintenance,” Thomas said.
"I came before you with a countdown at the last three school board meetings ... well, the clock has run out,”he continued. “From that moment on, we know who we can point to when something happens. You are the last hope for these kids. Even if you see no hope in the fight, show you wouldn’t give up. Stand as their protectors. Reject Cheyenne's overreach. If you are the first, set an example; if other districts join you, all the better.”
Zeller, Stinson and Thomas continued the argument against the gun policy, with Zeller citing statistics from a nonpartisan think tank showing an increase in gun deaths and injuries in states that have passed similar legislation.
Stinson voiced support for the hiring of a school resource officer and funding for mental health and Vonnie Thomas describing her own life experiences with active shooters while living in other parts of the country.
"I am that child," she said, adding that she once had to hide in a bathroom because active shooters were outside her school. They never made it in. Looking back on it now, she said she's thankful her teachers weren’t allowed to carry weapons.
Like the others, she said the new gun law puts kids at even greater risk of gun violence, adding that she’d prefer a school resource officer rather than an armed teacher.
On the opposite side of the issue, James Morgan said his wife is a teacher and that he has a child in the second grade.
"I believe guns make people more accountable and less brazen, when they know they aren’t the only person who has a firearm," Morgan said.
"We need to embrace the legislation and lead the charge. If training is required, the school board should pay for that training,” he said. “Teachers should have the right to exercise their rights. I find it concerning that people who put people in their positions seem so bothered by the thought of carrying a firearm. Yet we drop our children off five days a week, we entrust them with their care. These same individuals take them on field trips, overnight trips, spend the better part of the day with them."
In closing, Morgan said, “There’s no way to police the general public ... you guys, your staff and teachers, should be on the same platform as everyone else."
Fritz addressed some of the public's specific suggestions later in the meeting, saying the district cannot legally require employees and volunteers who want to carry to undergo a psych eval, just as it can’t require people who are carrying to sit in a specific section of the bleachers.
“It’s a law ... we have to follow up the law, no matter what it is,” he said.
Fritz said the 45-day comment period will expire prior to the August meeting, when the policy will be up for first reading. The first day of school is Aug. 19.
This story was published on July 24, 2025.