If you’re trying to figure out Wyoming’s gun laws, you may have already discovered that the state is protective of gun rights. Wyoming is a constitutional-carry state. That means qualifying U.S. residents age 21 and older can carry a concealed handgun without a permit. Along with that, open carry is also legal throughout the state.
Also, Wyoming does not require a permit to purchase a firearm, firearm registration, a waiting period, or magazine-capacity limits. So, you can bring your gun everywhere, right?
Not exactly. There are still places where you can’t legally carry, and federal law can restrict firearm possession even when Wyoming law does not. Here is what you need to know to avoid an expensive and potentially serious mistake.
Wyoming Gun Laws Basics
Wyoming’s Constitution protects the right to bear arms. Most of the state’s firearm laws are friendly to lawful gun owners. Here is a quick look:
- Concealed carry: Permitless for qualifying U.S. residents 21 and older.
- Open carry: Legal statewide without a permit.
- Purchase permits: Not required.
- Firearm registration: Not required.
- Magazine limits: None under Wyoming law.
- Out-of-state residents: Qualifying visitors can carry under Wyoming’s permitless-carry law.
- Ages 18–20: Qualifying Wyoming residents may be eligible for a Wyoming Concealed Firearm Permit (CFP), which is required for concealed carry by this age group.
The important part is that being allowed to carry doesn’t mean you are allowed to carry everywhere.
Carrying a Gun in Wyoming
HB 96 lowered the age for a Wyoming Concealed Firearm Permit from 21 to 18. The change took effect July 1, 2026, and it allows qualifying 18 to 20-year-olds to obtain a Wyoming CFP.
But for most people 21 and older who can legally possess a firearm, carrying a concealed handgun in Wyoming does not require a permit. And yes, that applies to qualifying visitors from other states, too.
Open carry is also legal without a permit. You can carry a firearm in your vehicle. This can be done either openly or concealed, as long as you are legally allowed to possess it.
So, if a permit is not required, why would anyone need to get one?
A Wyoming Concealed Firearm Permit can still be helpful, especially if you travel. It may provide reciprocity in states that recognize Wyoming’s permit. A valid, qualifying Wyoming CFP may also allow a licensed firearms dealer to complete a transfer without running a separate NICS background check, if federal requirements for the permit exception are met.
Where Are You Not Allowed to Carry?
Wyoming’s 2025 Repeal Gun Free Zones Act removed many locations that had previously been off-limits to concealed firearms and expanded where lawful concealed carry is allowed. That means some places that used to appear on “no carry” lists may no longer belong there.
But the law is not unlimited, and restrictions can still depend on permit status, the type of property, federal law, and the specific location involved. Depending on the circumstances, firearms may remain prohibited or restricted in places such as:
- Courtrooms and certain courthouse areas
- Detention facilities, jails, and prisons
- Certain law enforcement facilities
- The bar portion of alcohol-licensed establishments
- Federal buildings, federal courthouses, and other locations where federal law or regulation prohibits firearms
- Public schools, colleges, universities, athletic events, public buildings, airports, and government meetings in situations where Wyoming law requires a permit or where another statutory exception applies
- Private property where the owner lawfully restricts firearms
Private property is another issue. Wyoming law preserves a private property owner’s ability to restrict firearms on private property. If you’re asked to leave and refuse, you could turn a firearm-related disagreement into a trespassing problem.
There is also federal law. Federal restrictions can apply even when Wyoming law is more lenient, including in places where federal law or regulation separately prohibits firearms.
Who Cannot Legally Possess a Gun?
Unfortunately, Wyoming’s strong protections for gun ownership do not erase federal firearm restrictions. Federal law prohibits firearm possession by people convicted of a felony punishable by more than one year in prison.
A misdemeanor domestic-violence conviction can also result in a federal firearm prohibition under the Lautenberg Amendment. That prohibition can apply even though the conviction was not a felony.
Protection orders can create another serious issue. Once a qualifying protection order has been entered, federal law may prohibit the person subject to the order from possessing firearms or ammunition.
What Happens If You’re Charged With a Gun Crime?
Wyoming gun laws are not as strict as those of other states. But that doesn’t mean that there are no restrictions. A prior conviction, protection order, prohibited location, or federal restriction can change the legal picture.
If you’ve been charged with a gun crime in Wyoming, or you’re worried that your firearm possession could put you at risk of criminal charges, you need legal help.
At Just Criminal Law, we can review the circumstances of your case, explain what laws apply, and help you understand your options.
Contact Just Criminal Law today to discuss your situation with a Wyoming criminal defense attorney.
FAQs
Do I need a permit to carry a gun in Wyoming?
Qualifying U.S. residents 21 and older can carry a concealed handgun without a permit. Open carry is also legal without a permit.
Can an out-of-state resident carry a gun in Wyoming?
Wyoming’s permitless-carry law applies to qualifying U.S. residents, not just Wyoming residents. Visitors still have to follow Wyoming’s prohibited-location rules and applicable federal law.
Can a felon own a gun in Wyoming?
Both Wyoming and federal law restrict firearm possession by people with certain felony convictions.
