The Wyoming Legislature is considering a bill this session that would allow Wyoming residents to carry concealed weapons without a state permit.

Controversy has intensified around the issue of gun control in the wake of the attempted assassination of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in Tuscon, Arizona. The proposed Wyoming law would mirror a current Arizona law, which also allows citizens to carry concealed firearms without concealed weapon permits.

On Tuesday, the Wyoming Senate passed the bill with a 20-10 vote. Although the bill still has to pass in the House of Representatives, some observers think that it is unlikely to face any serious challenges due to the conservative makeup of the legislature.

Although the legislation has received some coverage in state press, UW students polled by the Branding Iron were mostly unaware of the bill. Most did not know the specifics of the bill. Those who were aware of the bill expressed concerns and skepticism about the need for the law.

Alec Hinojosa, a sophomore political science major, had some fundamental concerns about the bill.