Agent 006 &7/8
Member
I was up hiking into the Big Horn Mountains to do a little flyfishing a couple of summers ago when I met a NYFD firefighter on the trail. During the conversation he notice (with a GASP and a point ) that I had a 1911 on my right hip. He proceeded to tell me that guns were illegal in a National Forest, that I should take it off and store it in my truck back at the trailhead. I tried to explain that 1) this is Wyoming; 2) open carry is legal for all in Wyoming (permits required for concealed); 3) Guns are legal in National Forests; 5) Hunting is legal in National Forests thus guns; and 6) This is WYOMING! He repeated that guns were illegal and that I MUST disarm. I just smiled, waved and headed uptrail. Several hours later I was coming back out and ran into a G&F officer. After discussing how I'd faired with the trout (not bad) he asked, chuckling, if I'd run into a New Yorker earlier. I admitted that, yes, I had and asked what had happened. Apperently the NYC'er encountered the officer and informed him that "There's guy with a gun up the Lake Angeline trail!" The officer asked if I had threaten him, and after insuring that there were no criminal actions he tried, in vain, to explain that in Wyoming carring a gun is legal, ethical, moral, and expected. That guns are about a plentiful as hiking boots, cowboy hats and pickup trucks. They went back and forth for a while about the legal status of armed citizens to no avail. Finally the NYC'er threw his hands up and said, "I can't believe this crazy state, I'm going home where is safe!" Boy, did we get a hugh laugh out of THAT statement!