Gun Crimes Defense in Wyoming

Wyoming Gun Crime Defense Attorney

Wyoming is one of the most gun-friendly states in the country. But that doesn’t mean firearms charges aren’t serious — they are.

    Start Your Free Case Review

    1/4

    How can we reach you?

    2/4

    Tell Us About Your Case

    What criminal charge are you facing?

    3/4

    Case Location & Timeline



    4/4

    Home » Criminal Defense » Gun Crimes

    Gun Crimes in Wyoming: Where Second Amendment Rights and Criminal Law Meet

    Wyoming has some of the most permissive gun laws in the country. Constitutional carry is the law — no permit required to carry a concealed firearm. But federal law still applies, and certain people — felons, domestic violence misdemeanants, those subject to protection orders — are prohibited from possessing firearms regardless of state law. And when a firearm is involved in another crime, the penalties escalate significantly.

    Types of Gun Crime Charges in Wyoming

    The most common gun crime charges in Wyoming involve prohibited persons possessing firearms — typically prior felons who are barred under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) from possessing any firearm or ammunition. Other charges include: carrying a concealed weapon without eligibility, possessing a firearm while under a domestic violence protection order, using or displaying a firearm during the commission of another crime, and illegal transfer or sale of firearms. Federal involvement is common in gun crime cases, and federal charges carry their own serious penalties.

    Penalties for Gun Crimes in Wyoming

    Felon in possession of a firearm under federal law carries up to 10 years in federal prison — and federal sentencing guidelines often result in significant prison terms even for first offenses. Using a firearm during a drug trafficking crime or crime of violence triggers mandatory minimum sentences under federal law. At the state level, penalties for weapons offenses vary but can include significant jail time even for misdemeanor-level charges.

    How We Defend Gun Crime Cases in Wyoming

    Gun crime defenses often start with the circumstances of how the firearm was found. Was the search that revealed the weapon lawful? Did the officer have reasonable suspicion or probable cause? Was a warrant properly obtained and executed? If the firearm was discovered through an unlawful search, suppression of the evidence can result in the charge being dismissed. We also challenge whether our client actually possessed the firearm — constructive possession cases, where the weapon was found in a shared space, require the prosecution to prove more than mere proximity.

    Call Just Criminal Law today for a free case review.

    Related Charges We Also Defend

    Dark blue painted brick wall with uniform rectangular bricks in horizontal pattern.
    Weapons Offenses Weapons charges distinct from firearms — knives, prohibited weapons, and more.
    Drug Crimes Firearm possession during a drug offense triggers federal mandatory minimums.
    Violent Crimes Firearm use in a violent crime significantly elevates charges and penalties.
    Domestic Violence A domestic violence conviction — even misdemeanor — bans firearm possession.
    Felonies Prior felony convictions are the most common trigger for firearms prohibition.
    Self-Defense Wyoming’s strong self-defense laws interact with firearms charges in important ways.

    Why Clients in Wyoming and South Dakota Choose Just Criminal Law

    gavel
    Former Prosecutors on Your Side

    Our attorneys spent years working for the state before switching sides. We know exactly how prosecutors build cases and exactly where to find the holes.

    icon of a shield that has a tick in the center
    Criminal Defense Is All We Do

    We do not split our focus between practice areas. Every attorney, every resource, every minute is focused on one thing: your criminal defense.

    location pin
    Local Knowledge That Matters

    We know the courts, the judges, and the prosecutors across Wyoming and western South Dakota. Local familiarity shapes strategy and strategy shapes outcomes.

    message box
    Spanish Language Services Available

    Servicios de traduccion en espanol disponibles. Every client fully understands their case, their options, and their rights.

    25+ Years of Success

    Real Results for Wyoming & South Dakota Clients

    • Dark blue painted brick wall with uniform rectangular bricks in horizontal pattern.
      Other
      Suppression Appeal — Wyoming Supreme Court

      District Court denied motion to suppress. Wyoming Supreme Court accepted certiorari on appeal.

      Barney v. State of Wyoming — Wyoming Supreme Court

    • Dark blue painted brick wall with uniform rectangular bricks in horizontal pattern.
      CASE DISMISSED
      Reckless Endangering / Domestic Battery / Child Endangering — Wyoming

      Client charged with reckless endangering, domestic battery, and child endangering. All charges dismissed.

      State v. Quezada-Lopez — Wyoming Circuit Court

    • Dark blue painted brick wall with uniform rectangular bricks in horizontal pattern.
      CASE DISMISSED
      DUI / DWUI — Wyoming

      Client charged with DUI. State unable to lay foundation for the breath test. Case dismissed.

      State v. Von Olnhausen — Wyoming Circuit Court

    • Dark blue painted brick wall with uniform rectangular bricks in horizontal pattern.
      CASE DISMISSED
      Felony Child Abuse — Wyoming

      Client charged with accessory after the fact and aggravated child abuse — a felony. State unable to meet its burden of proof at preliminary hearing. Felony count dismissed.

      State v. Bullinger — Wyoming District Court

    See All Case Results
    Professional woman in blue blazer sitting at desk with documents and pen, smiling.

    Charged with a crime in Wyoming? Time is critical.

    The sooner you have an attorney, the more options you have.

    Schedule Your Case Review Call Now: (307) 686-6556
    Client Testimonials

    What Clients Say About Just Criminal Law

    Read More Client Stories

    Frequently Asked Questions About Gun Crime Charges in Wyoming

    No. Under federal law — specifically 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) — anyone convicted of a felony is permanently prohibited from owning, possessing, or having access to firearms or ammunition. This applies regardless of Wyoming’s permissive gun laws. State law cannot override federal firearms prohibitions. A felon found in possession of a firearm in Wyoming faces federal charges carrying up to 10 years in prison.

    No. Wyoming is a constitutional carry state — residents and visitors who are legally permitted to possess a firearm may carry it concealed without a permit. However, this only applies to people who are not otherwise prohibited under state or federal law. Prohibited persons — including felons, domestic violence misdemeanants, and those under protection orders — cannot legally carry regardless of Wyoming’s constitutional carry law.

    Yes, severely. Under the federal Lautenberg Amendment (18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(9)), any conviction for a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence results in a lifetime prohibition on owning or possessing firearms. This applies to Wyoming misdemeanor domestic violence convictions. Hunters, ranchers, law enforcement officers, and military members all lose their firearms rights upon a domestic violence conviction — which is one of the most significant reasons to fight that charge aggressively.

    Constructive possession means having access to and control over a firearm even if it isn’t physically on your person. If a gun is found in a shared home, a shared vehicle, or another space where multiple people have access, the prosecution must prove that you specifically knew about the firearm and had the ability and intent to exercise control over it. These cases are often contested and depend heavily on the specific facts — who lived there, whose belongings were where, and what the evidence shows about who actually controlled the weapon.

    Federal law imposes mandatory minimum sentences for using or carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking offense (18 U.S.C. § 924(c)). A first offense carries a mandatory 5-year federal sentence that must run consecutively to — not concurrently with — any sentence for the underlying drug crime. A second offense carries 25 years. These mandatory minimums cannot be reduced by a judge and are among the most severe sentencing provisions in federal criminal law.

    View All FAQs

    Wyoming Criminal Defense — Communities We Serve

    We are based in Gillette, Wyoming, and serve clients across the state and into western South Dakota. Our team knows the local courts, prosecutors, and judges in every community we serve — and that local knowledge makes a real difference in criminal defense.

    Dark blue painted brick wall with uniform rectangular bricks in horizontal pattern.
    Wyoming
    Dark blue painted brick wall with uniform rectangular bricks in horizontal pattern.
    South Dakota
    Attending the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally?

    We provide on-call criminal defense for Rally-related arrests including DUI, drug charges, weapons offenses, and assault. Call us 24/7 during Rally week.

    Three professionally dressed individuals engaged in conversation in a wood-paneled office setting.

    Request Your Free Gun Crime Defense Consultation

    If you have been charged with gun or firearms charges in Wyoming or South Dakota, the sooner you speak with an attorney, the more options you have. Call Just Criminal Law today for a free, confidential case review.

      Start Your Free Case Review

      1/4

      How can we reach you?

      2/4

      Tell Us About Your Case

      What criminal charge are you facing?

      3/4

      Case Location & Timeline



      4/4