Wyoming Governor Signs Bill Effectively Lowering Concealed Carry Age
Starting July 1, 2026, individuals between the ages of 18 and 20 may apply for a standard Concealed Firearm Permit (CFP). Previously, people within this age group could only obtain a permit under “extraordinary circumstances” with a specific recommendation from their county sheriff.
While the age of obtaining a permit is lowered to 18, Wyoming’s “constitutional carry” (carrying without a permit) will generally remain restricted to those under 21 years old.
To be considered eligible, an individual must meet several criteria: be at least 18 years of age; must be a Wyoming resident for over 6 months; must not have been committed to a mental institution or a controlled substance abuse facility within the past year; must have proof of firearms familiarity such as a hunter education course or an NRA certificate; and must not have any criminal background.
Due to the “Campus Carry” Law (HB172) passed in 2025, students that fit these set requirements and obtain a permit will be allowed to carry on campus, a law that sparked much debate before the soon-to-be instated lowered carry permit age.
People such as Erika Cole, who is with Moms Demand Action, heavily disagreed with House Bill 172
“Our students deserve the opportunity to learn in peace… We must stop normalizing the presence of guns in their spaces under the guise of safety,” Cole said in November of 2024.
However, in January of 2025, Rep. Lee Filer (R-Cheyenne), a supporter of the bill, disagreed. “Restricting law-abiding citizens from carrying a firearm to protect themselves and others from these [soft targets] is unconstitutional to our Second Amendment right,” Rep. Filer said.
Now that House Bill 96 has extended applicability under the “Campus Carry” Law, it is important to note that Wyoming’s “constitutional carry” is not allowed on campus grounds.
Specifically, while state law allows most adults to carry a concealed firearm in public without a permit, the University of Wyoming as well as other public colleges still require a physical, state-issued concealed firearm permit (CFP) for anyone carrying inside campus facilities. This means that students aged 18 to 20, who will soon be eligible for these permits, must complete the full application and background check process before they are legally authorized to carry in classrooms or labs.
Primary advocate for this new bill Rep. Jeremy Haroldson (R-Wheatland) said that if 18 year-olds can be sent off to fight for our country as adults, that they should be treated as adults in situations involving Constitutional rights.
“We send 18-year-olds off to war to fight for our country. Surely, we can treat them like other adults in cases involving a Constitutionally protected Right.” Rep. Jeremy Haroldson said, in a statement during the House introduction (February 2026).
As the implementation date approaches, the University of Wyoming and the state of Wyoming are preparing for a shift in day-to-day and campus life. For the first time, a significant portion of underclassmen will have a legal pathway to carry concealed on campus. Whether this change leads to safety concerns voiced by opponents or the constitutional normalization sought by proponents, the upcoming fall semester will serve as the first real-world test of Wyoming’s expanded campus carry landscape.
