Converse County School District 1 revokes gun policy prior to start of new state law
DOUGLAS (WNE) — The Douglas School District’s controversial policy allowing guns in school buildings, which was passed last fall, is now being rescinded in light of a new state law taking effect July 1.
The school board on June 18 voted to rescind the policy which set rules for district employees to carry firearms.
That action now allows the trustees to hold a public hearing on the issue during the board meeting July 8 and potentially vote on formally repealing it Aug. 5.
The new law, called “Wyoming Repeal Gun Free Zones Act” which was passed by the legislature last session and begins July 1, allows anyone with a concealed weapons permit to carry a firearm into any public building not serving alcohol.
Separately, the new law restricts school employees from bringing guns into school buildings unless the district has a policy in place allowing it – thus creating the desire locally to repeal the policy.
Students, regardless of whether they have a concealed weapons permit or not, are still prohibited from carrying firearms on school property.
The new law reads: “Employees of a school district who hold a valid concealed carry permit issued under W.S. 6-8-104 may carry a concealed firearm on or into school facilities or other areas designated by the board of trustees, provided the employing school district has adopted rules and regulations that allow possession of firearms on school property and the employee has received approval by the board of trustees as required by this section.”
That section of the new law is what prompted the Douglas School District to repeal its policy allowing employees to carry weapons under certain conditions, including training and mental health evaluations.
The district policy being rescinded was written under the 2017 Wyoming law requiring districts to have such a policy. The new law eradicates the 2017 version and states anyone with a concealed weapons permit can carry, except employees and students.
“It just feels like it’s a bit of a moving target, and if we try to kind of fix a few little things and change some other things then the legislature will make changes,” Trustee Brad Reese said during the special board meeting last week. “We’re just going to kind of be behind that the whole time, so it feels best at this time to just pull back and wait for the dust to settle.”
“I’ve said this, but the training thing is throwing me off,” said Trustee Trent Boner. “I think there’s an opportunity here to try and do some sort of training with law enforcement but I don’t know what that looks like today and I agree we should rescind it and re-evaluate it later down the road.”
The nine-member board voted unanimously to rescind the current policy, though some board members attended by video call.
The new law, enrolled act HB0172 (2025) states: “Persons lawfully carrying concealed weapons in Wyoming under W.S. 6-8-104(a)(ii) through (iv) may carry a concealed weapon in the following places: (i) Any public school, public college or university athletic event taking place on public property that does not sell alcoholic beverages; (ii) Any public elementary or secondary school facility; (iii) Any public college or university facility. (d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to: (i) Allow the carrying of a concealed weapon where otherwise prohibited under W.S. 6-8-104(t); (ii) Prohibit a private property owner from restricting firearms on his private property; (iii) Prohibit a governmental entity from prohibiting the open carry, display or wearing of a firearm in its facilities or on its campus . . .”
This story was published on June 25, 2025.