A Wyoming firearm bill of sale legally records the transfer of a gun from a seller to a buyer. It includes essential information, such as the gun’s identifying details (make, model, and serial number) and the buyer’s and seller’s contact information. It provides proof of ownership and safeguards both parties, ensuring that the sale is properly documented.
State Laws for Selling a Gun in Wyoming
Minimum Age to Purchase
A purchaser must be at least 18 to buy a long gun and 21 to buy a handgun. [1]
Permit for Purchase
You don’t need a permit to buy a gun in Wyoming. You only need a background check if you buy from a federal firearms dealer. Private sales don’t require the buyer to undergo a background check.
Register a Gun
No government agency is allowed to keep a registry of privately owned firearms. [2] This regulation doesn’t apply to record-keeping for any firearm involved in a law enforcement investigation.
Open Carry Permit
Wyoming lets residents openly carry a firearm if they’re 18 and can otherwise legally possess the firearm.
Concealed Carry Permit
As a constitutional carry state, Wyoming does not mandate individuals over 21 have a permit to carry a concealed weapon. Still, some individuals may wish to secure one for travel purposes. Many other states will recognize a Wyoming permit.
How to Apply
The state Attorney General will issue the concealed firearm permit [3] when you complete the following steps:
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Step 1 – Fill Out Application: You must fill out an application, apply with the Sheriff’s Office in your county, and pay the applicable fees. To get approval, you must meet the following criteria:
- Be a resident of the US.
- Be a resident of the state for at least six months before the application
- Be at least 21 years old
- Have no physical issue preventing safe gun handling a firearm
- Not be ineligible under state or federal law to possess a firearm
- Not be under court-ruled substance abuse treatment within the past year
- Have no controlled substance-related convictions
- Have completion of a training course or other certified proof of proficiency with a firearm
- Not be legally incompetent
- Not have a mental institution commitment
- The sheriff has not deemed the applicant a danger to oneself or others
- Step 2 – Consent to Background Check: You also must complete and pass a background check.
- Step 3 – Wait for Approval or Denial: The process takes about 90 days. The permit is valid for five years.
Gun Reciprocity
Anyone age 18 or older visiting Wyoming can open carry without restrictions. The state recognizes permits from states that honor Wyoming’s permit for concealed carry. Currently, Wyoming has reciprocity with 35 states. [4]
Restrictions on Firearm Ownership
State law outlines those prohibited explicitly from possessing firearms, [5] but some conditions have exceptions. Any person with a violent felony conviction or a conviction of physical harm or attempt to harm a law enforcement officer is generally unable to purchase a firearm in the state. Still, there is an exception to allow ownership of an antique firearm.
The only full prohibitions under Wyoming law are for anyone with a court order of legal incompetence or commitment to a mental institution.
Anyone buying or selling must also abide by prohibitions under federal law. [6] The additional prohibited persons include:
- Convicted felons
- Fugitives from the law
- Persons with a controlled substance addiction
- Those who are unlawfully or illegally in the United States
- Individuals with a dishonorable discharge from the military
- Anyone subject to a court order for domestic violence
- Persons with a misdemeanor conviction for domestic violence
Firearm Inheritance Laws
Individuals who wish to pass their guns along to their beneficiaries can set up NFA gun trusts.
