Wyoming Gun Laws (2026): Constitutional Carry, CFP, Stand Your Ground & 2A Sanctuary

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Last updated May 2026 · By Nick Hall, CCW instructor tracking Wyoming’s constitutional carry under SF 109 (effective July 1, 2011) and SF 0079 (effective July 1, 2021, non-resident extension), the optional Concealed Firearm Permit at Wyo. Stat. § 6-8-104, Stand Your Ground at § 6-2-602, the Second Amendment Sanctuary Act (HB 0101, 2022), and state preemption at § 6-8-401

Disclaimer: This is an editorial round-up of Wyoming gun laws. We do our best to make sure it’s correct, but do not rely on this as legal advice. Consult a Wyoming-licensed firearms attorney for any specific question.

Looking for a brick-and-mortar shop in Wyoming? See our best gun stores in Wyoming guide for verified FFL dealers, ranges, and gunsmiths near you.

Wyoming Gun Laws in 2026: What You Need to Know

TL;DR: Wyoming gun laws are at the most permissive end of the country. Constitutional carry has been legal for Wyoming residents since SF 109 took effect on July 1, 2011, and was extended to non-residents by SF 0079 effective July 1, 2021. Adults 21 and older may carry concealed without a permit (residents and non-residents). The optional Concealed Firearm Permit (CFP) under Wyo. Stat. § 6-8-104 remains available for reciprocity travel and is honored in 36+ states. Open carry is legal without a permit. Stand Your Ground codified at Wyo. Stat. § 6-2-602. Castle Doctrine. State preemption at Wyo. Stat. § 6-8-401. The Second Amendment Sanctuary Act (HB 0101, 2022) prohibits state and local enforcement of certain federal gun-control measures. NICS at FFL only, no universal background check. No waiting period. No magazine cap. No assault weapons ban. No red flag law.

Wyoming gun laws are arguably the most consistently permissive in the country. The state has had constitutional carry since 2011 (residents) and 2021 (non-residents), codified Stand Your Ground, codified Castle Doctrine, no magazine cap, no AWB, no red flag, no waiting period, no universal background check, no purchase permit, no firearm registration, and one of the most aggressive Second Amendment Sanctuary statutes in the country. Governor Mark Gordon and the Wyoming Legislature have steadily reinforced this framework over the last decade.

Whether you live in Wyoming, are moving here, or are just passing through, this page covers the 2026 rules with statute citations and official sources. WY gun laws sit within our broader U.S. gun laws by state hub.

Wyoming Gun Laws: The Highlights

TL;DR: Wyoming gun laws permit constitutional carry of handguns by adults 21+ (residents and non-residents), keep the optional Concealed Firearm Permit at Wyo. Stat. § 6-8-104 (8-hour course, $74, 5 years, 36+ state reciprocity), allow open carry without a permit, codify Stand Your Ground at § 6-2-602, enforce strong state preemption at § 6-8-401, and have NO magazine cap, NO assault weapons ban, NO red flag law, NO waiting period, and NO universal background check.

• Constitutional carry of handguns by adults 21+ (residents and non-residents). SF 109 (residents, 2011) and SF 0079 (non-resident extension, 2021).
• Concealed Firearm Permit (CFP) under Wyo. Stat. § 6-8-104. Issued by the Attorney General. Age 21+ (18+ for active-duty military), 8-hour state-approved firearms training course, $74 fee, valid five years. Honored in 36+ states.
• Open carry of handguns and long guns is legal for adults 18+ without a permit.
• NICS at FFL purchases. No universal background check. Private sales between WY residents do not require a check.
• No waiting period. NICS Proceed at the FFL means same-day pickup.
• Stand Your Ground codified at Wyo. Stat. § 6-2-602. No duty to retreat anywhere a person has a legal right to be. Castle Doctrine applies in dwelling, business, and occupied vehicle.
• Strong state preemption at Wyo. Stat. § 6-8-401. Local jurisdictions cannot regulate firearms beyond state law.
• Second Amendment Sanctuary Act (HB 0101, 2022) prohibits state and local enforcement of certain federal gun-control measures that conflict with Wyoming law.
• No magazine capacity limit. No assault weapons ban. No red flag law. No state-level “ghost gun” prohibition.
• NFA items legal with federal ATF approval. Wyoming does not add a state-level NFA layer. Suppressors legal for hunting under Wyoming Game & Fish rules.
• Sensitive locations under Wyo. Stat. § 6-8-104(t) still apply: K-12 schools, courthouses, federal facilities, and posted private property.

For the official state resource, see the Wyoming Attorney General page and the Wyoming Legislature portal.

Key Information at a Glance

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Constitutional Carry: SF 109 (Residents, 2011) and SF 0079 (Non-Residents, 2021)

TL;DR: Wyoming’s permitless carry has been in effect since SF 109 took effect on July 1, 2011 for residents. SF 0079 (signed 2021, effective July 1, 2021) extended permitless carry to non-residents. Adults 21 and older who can lawfully possess a handgun may carry concealed or openly without a permit, regardless of state of residence. Sensitive locations under Wyo. Stat. § 6-8-104(t) still apply.

Concealed Firearm Permit (CFP): Wyo. Stat. § 6-8-104

TL;DR: Wyoming’s optional Concealed Firearm Permit under Wyo. Stat. § 6-8-104 is worth getting for reciprocity travel. Issued by the Wyoming Attorney General. Age 21+ (18+ for active-duty military), 8-hour state-approved firearms training course, $74 fee, valid five years. Honored in 36+ states under reciprocity.

Wyo. Stat. § 6-8-104 Wyoming Concealed Firearm Permit

(a) The attorney general shall issue a permit to carry a concealed firearm to any person who: (i) is a resident of the United States who is twenty-one (21) years of age or older; (ii) is not ineligible to possess a firearm under federal or state law; (iii) has not been adjudicated a mental defective or committed to a mental institution; (iv) demonstrates familiarity with a firearm by completing a state-approved firearms safety and training course of at least eight hours; (v) pays the application fee. The fee is $74 and the permit is valid for five years. — Constitutional carry under SF 109 (2011) and SF 0079 (2021) made the CFP optional for adults 21+, but the CFP remains worth obtaining because it is honored under reciprocity in 36+ other states. Active-duty military may apply at age 18+.

Buying a Firearm in Wyoming

TL;DR: Wyoming gun laws send all FFL purchases through NICS. Private sales between WY residents do not require a background check or FFL transfer. There is no waiting period. Federal floor: 21+ for FFL handgun, 18+ for FFL long gun.

Self-Defense: Stand Your Ground and Castle Doctrine

TL;DR: Wyoming codifies Stand Your Ground and Castle Doctrine at Wyo. Stat. § 6-2-602. No duty to retreat anywhere a person has a legal right to be. Castle Doctrine applies in dwelling, business, and occupied vehicle with a presumption of reasonable fear. The statute provides civil-suit protection through the same framework.

Wyo. Stat. § 6-2-602 Wyoming Stand Your Ground / Castle Doctrine

(a) The use of defensive force whether actual or threatened, is reasonable when it is the defensive force that a reasonable person in like circumstances would judge necessary to prevent an injury or loss, and can include deadly force if necessary to prevent imminent death or serious bodily injury to the person employing the defensive force or to another person, to prevent the commission of a violent felony, or to prevent the unlawful entry into the person's home or vehicle. (b) A person who is attacked in any place where the person is lawfully present shall not have a duty to retreat before using reasonable defensive force pursuant to subsection (a). (e) A person who uses reasonable defensive force as defined by subsection (a) shall not be subject to civil action by the person against whom the defensive force was used. — Wyoming's Stand Your Ground codification provides both criminal justification and statutory civil immunity.

Reciprocity: Out-of-State Permits

TL;DR: Wyoming honors valid concealed carry permits from all 50 states for non-residents. The Wyoming CFP is honored in 36+ other states under formal reciprocity. Constitutional carry covers Wyoming residents and non-residents 21+, so visitors from any state can lawfully carry concealed in Wyoming under the permitless framework regardless of permit status.

Where You Can’t Carry: Sensitive Locations

TL;DR: Even with permitless carry or a CFP, Wyoming gun laws prohibit carry in K-12 schools, courthouses, federal facilities (18 U.S.C. § 930), and posted private property. State preemption under Wyo. Stat. § 6-8-401 prevents municipalities from adding their own carry-prohibited zones beyond what state and federal law specify.

State Preemption and Second Amendment Sanctuary

TL;DR: Wyoming gun laws are strongly preempted under Wyo. Stat. § 6-8-401. Local jurisdictions cannot regulate firearm ownership, possession, transfer, or transportation beyond state law. The Second Amendment Sanctuary Act (HB 0101, 2022) prohibits state and local enforcement of certain federal gun-control measures that conflict with Wyoming law, including any federal ban on semiautomatic firearms or magazine capacity limits.

NFA Items in Wyoming

TL;DR: Wyoming defers to federal NFA law. Suppressors, SBRs, SBSs, and pre-1986 transferable machine guns are all legal in Wyoming with proper federal ATF registration. Wyoming does not impose a state-level NFA layer. Hunting with suppressors is permitted under Wyoming Game & Fish rules.

For background on the federal regime itself, see our National Firearms Act explainer or the ATF National Firearms Act page. Wyoming has a present SOT dealer footprint across Cheyenne, Casper, Laramie, and Jackson.

Recent Changes (2011-2026)

• SF 109, Constitutional Carry for Residents (2011). Effective July 1, 2011. Permitless concealed carry for adult Wyoming residents.
• SF 0079, Constitutional Carry for Non-Residents (2021). Effective July 1, 2021. Extended permitless carry to non-residents 21+.
• HB 0101, Second Amendment Sanctuary Act (2022). Prohibits state and local enforcement of certain federal gun-control measures that conflict with Wyoming law.
• 2024-2025 sessions. No major framework changes; various refinements to the CFP and reciprocity rules.
• 2026 session. Convened January 13, 2026. Limited firearms-related legislation pending.

Our Take on Wyoming Gun Laws

For practical everyday purposes, Wyoming gun laws are at the most permissive end of the country. Constitutional carry covering residents and non-residents, no waiting period, no magazine cap, no AWB, no red flag law, codified Stand Your Ground, broad reciprocity, and an active Second Amendment Sanctuary statute make Wyoming one of the easiest jurisdictions in the country for serious carriers and hunters.

The CFP remains worth getting for the 36+ state reciprocity network, but the framework is otherwise minimal-friction. For our broader state-by-state comparison, see the all 50 state gun-law guides hub.

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Wyoming-Specific Carry Questions

When did Wyoming adopt permitless carry, and what is the Wyoming Concealed Firearm Permit good for?

Wyoming enacted permitless concealed carry in 2011 under HB 102. The Concealed Firearm Permit still has value: it unlocks reciprocity in states that recognize Wyoming permits but not its permitless-carry framework, and the Wyoming permit is honored by a relatively large number of receiving states due to the training standard Wyoming adopted in the early 2000s.

Can I carry into Yellowstone or Grand Teton National Park under Wyoming law?

Yes for the act of carry, but federal rules govern inside the parks. The 2010 NDAA-era federal change allows lawful firearms in National Parks, but federal-building restrictions still apply inside park visitor centers, ranger stations, and any administrative buildings. The carry rules outside those federal buildings follow Wyoming state law, which permits lawful carry by anyone who could carry elsewhere in Wyoming.

Does the Wyoming Firearms Freedom Act protect locally-manufactured guns from federal regulation?

The Wyoming Firearms Freedom Act asserts that firearms manufactured and remaining within Wyoming are not subject to certain federal regulations under an interstate-commerce theory. Federal courts have not validated this theory at the appellate level, and federal prosecutors continue to bring charges under federal firearms law regardless of Wyoming’s statute. Treat the Act as a state-level political statement rather than as legal cover for evading federal NFA or GCA rules.

Are there magazine-capacity limits anywhere in Wyoming?

No. Wyoming has no statewide magazine-capacity limit, and state preemption blocks any city or county from enacting one. Federal restrictions on machine guns and short-barreled rifles still apply through the NFA, but Wyoming adds no state-level magazine or feature-based restriction on top of federal law.

Frequently Asked Questions: Wyoming Gun Laws