Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon has vetoed a bill that supporters say protects the Second Amendment rights of Wyoming residents, but which is opposed by many law enforcement agencies in the state.
The governor announced his veto on Tuesday morning.
You can read Senate File 101, the Second Amendment Protection Act, here.
The bill prohibits using state money or personnel to enforce federal gun legislation in Wyoming. A 2022 law already restricts enforcing federal gun laws in Wyoming, but the 2026 SAPA act would impose a potential $50,000 fine per violation on state agencies. It also would allow private citizens for file a lawsuit .
Wyoming Gun Owners: Bill Fixes Weak Existing Law
Wyoming Gun Owners, on the organization’s website, says the 2026 law is needed, citing the following arguments:
“SF-101 fixes our current weak SAPA law in three ways:
1. Allows for civil penalties in the event of a violation
2. Prohibits the feds from using Wyoming cops in an ATF task force
3. Removes words in the current SAPA law that can be exploited.”
All 23 Wyoming county sheriffs traveled to Cheyenne during the 2026 session to voice opposition to Senate File 101. They are concerned the law would hurt state law enforcement in cooperative crime-fighting efforts with federal agencies.
Gordon Cites Letter From Acting ICE Director
Gordon, in a news release on Tuesday announcing his veto or the measure, quoted a letter from Immigration and Customs Enforcement acting director Todd Lyons
“Many of the most serious gun crimes today—international firearms trafficking, cross-border smuggling, terrorist cartel-linked straw purchasing, airport security violations, and financial crimes tied to arms trafficking—are primarily federal offenses. In many of these cases, Wyoming law has no parallel statute at all. Without federal cooperation, these serious crimes may never be prosecuted,” Lyons wrote.”
A 2/3 majority would be needed in both the Wyoming House and Senate to override the governor’s veto of Senate File 101.
Based on the margins with which the bill passed originally, an override vote might be close. It passed the Senate 26-5, which would easily surpass the 2/3 needed majority. But the House vote in favor was 40-21. That would fall one vote short of an override if all Representatives vote the same way on an override attempt.
