News & Commentary

This year, Wyomingites recognized Pride month as opportunity for healing and dialogue. With the recent tragedy in Orlando, Wyoming communities came together to hold vigils for the victims and their families.

Three years ago, in a major address at the National Defense University, President Obama announced that he had signed a classified document to tighten and formalize the rules relating to the use of lethal force against suspected terrorists “outside the United States and areas of actual hostilities.” The document — the Presidential Policy Guidance, or PPG — was not published at the time, but a redacted version of it is likely to be disclosed in the next week or so, perhaps alongside several related documents, a new executive order, and official casualty statistics for the drone war.

Congress can take action now to strengthen voter protections that have been weakened by the Supreme Court to ensure that every American vote counts this November.

During the 2015 Legislative Session, the ACLU of Wyoming was hard at work advocating for civil rights and fighting bills that threaten our freedoms.

Studies have shown, time and again, that drug testing is ineffective at deterring alcohol and drug use among young people.

 

The National Park Service is culling bison in the Stephens Creek area of Yellowstone National Park, and it has blocked off a seven-mile radius around its culling activities, denying access to the public. Members of the Buffalo Field Campaign and a freelance investigative journalist concerned about the welfare of bison have repeatedly requested permission to view the culling activities, only to be met with the assertion that the seven-mile distance constitutes “access.” Although the Park Service allowed the media to observe the culling activities from within a naked-eye view in the past, for the last few years they have shut off public scrutiny of their activities.

SF14 is a bill that would prohibit law enforcement from seizing private property unless they are charged and convicted with a felony.  The Heritage Foundation’s web site defines civil asset forfeiture in this way:  “Civil asset forfeiture is a legal tool that allows law enforcement officials to seize property that they assert has been involved in certain criminal activity. In fact, the owner of the property doesn’t even need to be guilty of a crime:…….. This means that police can seize your car, home, money or valuables without ever having to charge you with a crime.”