Dalton Banks

The proposed Wyoming State Shooting Complex passed a big hurdle in the House last week, thanks in part to support from all of Park County’s legislators.

On Friday, the House and Senate approved versions of the supplemental budget that both included funds for the new complex, making it more likely than ever to come to fruition.

The first hurdle was to get the now $13.5 million in state funding for the complex included in the supplemental budget bill drafted by the Joint Appropriations Committee. Then, late Wednesday night, an amendment to remove the funding from the supplemental budget was defeated in the House, with 25 representatives voting to remove the dollars and 32 opposed. Those in opposition to the removal of the funding included Reps. Paul Hoeft (R-Powell), Dalton Banks (R-Cowley), Rachel Rodriguez-Williams (R-Cody), Nina Webber (R-Cody) and John Winter (R-Thermopolis).

They also helped turn back an attempt to place a restriction on how much funding the state will provide for maintenance and a limit on how many years it would do so before the complex is able to be self sustaining. 

“When you start something like this, it takes a little time to get it off the ground,” said Hoeft, adding that from his experience on similar projects, “It’s the third year that starts building up a big head of steam.”

Webber, speaking in support of the complex, said it would be a boost not just the current crop of shooters and other Second Amendment enthusiasts, but to future generations of Wyomingites as well. 

“We want our kids to put down their phones and compete in lifelong hunting and fishing pursuits,” she said. 

Amendment 40, to remove funding from the project, was the real test. 

Rep. Mike Schmid (R-La Barge), brought forth the amendment to remove state funds — including up to $10 million appropriated in a previous session and $3.5 million added for the supplemental budget, mostly from the Wyoming tourism reserve and projects account — from the project. 

“As a solid Second Amendment supporter … I’d love to see a great shooting complex like this in Wyoming, but this is simply not the state’s job to put this facility up,” Schmid said, adding, “get out of the way and let private industry do what it does best … This is not the state’s function.”

Rep. Martha Lawley (R-Worland) seconded Schmid’s opinion. While calling it a good project, Lawley said it was tough to think of spending money on the complex at a time when lawmakers are being asked to tighten the belt of local government funding.

But Park County legislators and others across the state came to the defense of the complex.

“This has been a very thorough, collaborative process amongst all the stakeholders,” Banks said, adding that he’s heard from top firearms industry leaders of their excitement. “I think Wyoming is the prime place for this to happen.”

The support was bipartisan, as Rep. Mike Yin (D-Laramie) called the complex a chance to show off Wyoming’s culture not just nationally, but internationally. 

Rodriguez-Williams said the amendment went too far in going after not just the $3.5 million added this year from mainly tourism funds, but also the $10 million that was effectively appropriated back in 2023. 

“The project’s already been approved,” she said, adding, “If the body wants to have a debate about what’s in the supplemental budget [the $3.5 million], let’s have that debate. Let’s not take it to this level and undermine all the work of the 67th [Legislature] and all the funding that’s been invested by the task force and the local communities.”

Rodriguez-Williams noted that a third of the project is being funded with local dollars — mostly in the form of funds and sponsorships being sought from private companies — so not all of the funding is coming from the state. 

She also countered Schmid’s comments that the state shouldn’t help fund a state shooting complex: If the project doesn’t go forward, she said, it’d be a black eye for a state that touts itself as being so gun-friendly.

The House and Senate now need to hammer out the differences between their versions of the supplemental budget before sending it to Gov. Mark Gordon for his consideration.