History of Wyoming Gun Owners
Gun owners were used to sending their dollars out of Wyoming to national organizations that were NEVER seen in Cheyenne. Worse, at election time, they gave anti-gun RINOs A+ ratings, which only made the problem worse!
That all changed when Wyoming Gun Owners was founded. WYGO’s efforts have completely changed the gun laws—and political reality—of Wyoming.
2008: WYGO is Founded
Anthony Bouchard establishes Wyoming Gun Owners (WYGO) and begins grassroots mobilization as Obama enters the White House.
2010: WYGO Passes the Firearms Freedom Act
WYGO passes the Firearms Freedom Act. HB-95 was sponsored by Representative Allen Jaggi. The bill put penalties in place against law enforcement for trying to enforce federal gun control laws.
2011: WYGO Passes Constitutional Carry
WYGO passes Constitutional Carry (SF-47), carried by Senator Kit Jennings and Representative Allen Jaggi. This made Wyoming the 4th state in America to enact this law, which made carry permits optional.
2013: WYGO Passes Pre-Emption Law
WYGO passes preemption legislation, making it clear that municipalities could not regulate firearm rights. The legislature alone was given that power. The bill was HB-103, and our sponsor was Representative Allen Jaggi. Later that year, WYGO stopped Gillette Mayor Tom Murphy from enacting a local ordinance that would have required firearms registration!
2014: WYGO Defeats FIX-NICS Gun Control
WYGO defeats SF-111, a version of mental health–based gun control called ‘Fix-NICS.’ This bill would have sent up medical records of gun owners to the federal NICS database. The bill was filed by RINO Senator Fred Emerich.
2016: WYGO’s Founder, Anthony Bouchard, Gets Elected to the State Senate
Anthony Bouchard wins the first of two terms in the Wyoming Senate and selects Aaron Dorr to replace him as director of Wyoming Gun Owners.
2017: WYGO Passes Campus Carry, Matt Mead Vetoes
WYGO files legislation to pass Campus Carry with Representative Bo Biteman (HB-136). The bill cleared the House 40-19 but died in the Senate. WYGO also had Representative Biteman file legislation to repeal ‘Gun Free Zone’ laws (HB-137), with 14 cosponsors. The bill passed both chambers but was vetoed by Governor Mead.
2018: WYGO Passes Stand-Your-Ground Law
WYGO passes Stand-Your-Ground law. Senator Bouchard and Representative Salazar were lead sponsors of the bills (SF-71/HB-168). Salazar’s bill had 33 cosponsors! HB-168 passed the Senate 23-7 and the House 47-11. It was considered the most advanced version of Stand-Your-Ground law at the time. Governor Mead threatened a veto but allowed the bill to pass into law without his signature. WYGO highlights Senator Emerich in the primary, who lost his re-election.
2019: WYGO Works to Repeal Deadly ‘Gun Free Zones’
WYGO files legislation to repeal deadly ‘Gun Free Zones’ in the House (Representative Salazar, HB-183) and Senate (SF-71). Both bills were killed by leadership. The legislature announces they’ll study ‘Fix-NICS’ during the interim committee process. The Joint Judiciary Committee hears the bill but does not advance it, as WYGO mounted a full campaign against it.
2020: WYGO Kills FIX-NICS Legislation, Dominates the Primary
WYGO launches a full-scale program against Fix-NICS mental health gun control (HB-59) after Senator Von Flatern and Representative Bill Pownall filed it at the last minute. WYGO’s efforts led to the bill being withdrawn. WYGO also killed SF-80, legislation filed by Senator Rothfuss to mandate 3-day waiting periods on gun sales. WYGO runs the largest election program in its history, resulting in gun owners throwing out every politician who backed Fix-NICS. The Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce files a complaint with the Secretary of State alleging WYGO broke the state’s new campaign finance law.
2021: WYGO Improves Constitutional Carry, Sues State of Wyoming
WYGO files the Second Amendment Preservation Act (SAPA) with Representative Dan Laursen (HB-124) and Senator Anthony Bouchard (SF-81). Both bills died. WYGO works with Representative Bob Wharff to pass HB-116, which extended Constitutional Carry to everyone—not just residents of Wyoming. Governor Gordon, Secretary of State Ed Buchanan, and Attorney General Bridget Hill demand WYGO donor names over the campaign finance complaint. WYGO refuses and sues the State of Wyoming in federal district court.
2022: WYGO Wins in Court, Leads the Fight for the Second Amendment Preservation Act
WYGO files the Second Amendment Preservation Act (SAPA) with Senator Anthony Bouchard (SF-87) and Representative Bob Wharff (HB-133), which were blocked. The Governor, WASCOP, and RINOs in Cheyenne passed a fake version of SAPA (SF-102) that provided no protection to gun owners but protected politicians during the 2022 primary. WYGO’s legal team wins its federal lawsuit in district court (Casper), with Judge Scott Skavdahl ruling Wyoming’s campaign finance law unconstitutional. The State of Wyoming appeals.
2023: WYGO Wins Massive 1st Amendment Victory in the 10th Circuit
WYGO’s legal team argues its case in the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. Ten months later, the 10th Circuit hands WYGO an even bigger victory than it secured in district court. The case is *Wyoming Gun Owners v. Gray*.
2024: WYGO Passes Nation’s First Ban on ‘Red Flag Gun Seizures’
WYGO passes the nation’s first ban on ‘Red Flag Gun Seizures.’ Our sponsor was Senator Bo Biteman. The bill passed the Senate 31-0 and the House 54-8 before being signed into law by Governor Gordon. WYGO runs another full-size primary election educational program. Dozens of anti-gun RINOs are removed from office by gun owners who learned the facts. WYGO’s bill to repeal ‘Gun Free Zones’ (HB-125, Representative Jeremy Haroldson) passed the legislature but was vetoed by Governor Gordon.
2025: WYGO Stops SF-12, ‘Repeals Gun Free Zones,’ Puts SAPA on Governor’s Desk
WYGO blocks SF-12, a bill brought by the Attorney General’s office that would create a lifetime gun ban without requiring a criminal conviction. WYGO’s legislation to repeal ‘Gun Free Zones’ (HB-172, Representative Jeremy Haroldson) passes early in session, and Governor Gordon lets it pass—with a scathing rebuke. WYGO’s Second Amendment Preservation Act (SF-196, Senator Tim Salazar) passes the Senate 29-1 and the House 53-7 but is vetoed by Governor Gordon.