Schools, parents brace for gun law

Parent starts petition drive to keep guns out

Since the passage earlier this spring of House Bill 172 repealing gun free zones, school officials around the state have been developing their responses to the legislation, fully aware that, whether they like it or not, it’s going to become law on July 1.

Garrett Thomas, who has two kids enrolled in Greybull schools, is fearfully counting down the days. When he approached the Big Horn County School District No. 3 board of trustees earlier this month, the countdown stood at 84.

“Only two more school board meetings before individuals will be able to carry firearms into our schools, basketball games and Christmas plays,” said Thomas. “I came here for reassurance that this school board will not allow this to happen and will band together with other school districts to make sure we keep our kids safe.

“That we find a way to keep the guns out, or at the very least, mitigate the increase in danger with an increase of protection by funding SROs or getting a contract with the local police department to frequent our athletics and theatrical events.”

Gov. Mark Gordon allowed House Bill 172 - Repeal gun-free zones and pre-emption amendments to become law without his signature on Feb. 27.  

The new law allows persons lawfully carrying concealed weapons in Wyoming to do so in any meeting of a governmental entity; any meeting of the legislature or legislative committee, any public airport or  public building.

Of particular concern to Thomas and others is the language that allows concealed weapons in “any public school, public college or university athletic event taking place on a public property that does not sell alcoholic beverages; any public elementary or secondary school facility and any any public college or university.”

Thomas told the board, “It seems wrong to think it is a good idea to welcome this kind of danger to the one place our youth should feel safe — and for some, the only place they feel safe.”

He told the board he was circulating a petition, signed by more than 60 people who oppose the idea of gun-free zones being repealed in Greybull schools.  The list includes “gun owners who have never felt the desire to bring a pistol to a middle school volleyball game or Dr. Seuss Night, from ex-teachers and current teachers and from students currently enrolled in Greybull schools. 

“I hope you have a plan that will be in effect before that 84-day countdown ends, because if not, you — the last elected body that takes care of our children and their education — will have failed. ... So it falls to you to act, to do something, anything really, to make sure we don’t have guns in our schools.”

School response

Supt. Mark Fritz said he and other school districts have received guidance from their attorneys, including a sample policy that arrived in his email inbox earlier this week, and he expects to learn even more at a superintendent’s meeting at the end of the month.

The bill says the board of trustees in each school district may adopt rules and regulations to govern employees and volunteers lawfully carrying concealed weapons in Wyoming under W.S. 68104 on or in any property or facility owned or leased by the school district. 

“If no rules and regulations are adopted under this subsection, an employee or a volunteer with a permit to conceal carry under W.S. 68104(a)(ii) may carry a concealed weapon under W.S. 68105(c)(ii) or (iii) onto school property.”

Fritz said he struggles with the language of the bill.  

“We can put in extra hours of training, but we don’t know who has the concealed carry permit in the first place.  How do we know that? We can’t ask, and they don’t have to tell us. There’s just a lot of gray area there.”

Fritz said the board has discussed the legislation informally, but “there are more questions than answers” at this point. 

Fritz said he and Greybull Police Chief Travis Davis have discussed assigning officers to special events and whether the school district and the town could collaborate on a school resource officer, even if it’s just part time.

“He’s going to get back to me and the board and discuss what it could look like,” Fritz said.

He maintains that the hiring of a SRO would be the best solution, as the Greybull district remains the only one of the four in Big Horn County without one.  In fact, the Lovell district has two.

“If we’re going to do something, let’s fund that — at least one SRO for every district. If Casper wants to hire three or four, great. But let’s get one paid for in the model,” he said. “What’s hard for our school board members, we get money and try to spend it on kids, or teachers and paras for kids, or  stuff that goes right to kids.

“Well safety’s really important, too, but (legislators) keep harping on us to use the money the way the model is funded. OK, well, (an SRO) is not in the model.  If we do it outside the model, then the legislature will say we have to use the money the way it’s funded in the model.  Well, you can’t. It’s impossible.”

Not optimistic

Thomas said he’s doing his best to educate the public about the bill, but it’s an uphill climb.

“A lot of people I talk to don’t know anything about it,” he said. 

He intends to continue circulating the petition and gathering signatures in the weeks ahead for submission to the school board.

“I’m just trying to get as many people on board as I can,” he said. “I’m not even sure it’s going to affect any change, but I just can’t not say anything. I went to our superintendent, our chief and to the sheriff’s office, where i spoke with a deputy. None have any plan for how this is going to change any of their plans going forward.

“I’m all for the Second Amendment, I’ve shot guns since I was a kid, but one place kids should feel safe is at school and at school events,” he said. “I’m also worried for referees; I’ve seen so many parents get mad at them, I don’t even want to think about what that’s going to be like.”