Proposed federal restrictions on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines would be unenforceable in Wyoming under a bill that has cleared its first state legislative committee hearing.

At the state capitol in Cheyenne yesterday, the House Judiciary Committee voted 8-to-1 to advance the bill, which would impose felony penalties on federal officials who attempt to enforce federal weapons bans. The bill now goes to the full House for consideration.

Before the vote a large group of private citizens gathered at the statehouse. Most of them in favor of the bill including pastor Bill Kent Trollinger of Riverton.

Also yesterday, the House Judiciary Committee endorsed a separate bill that would allow Wyoming citizens who hold concealed carry permits to carry guns on public school and college campuses.

President Barack Obama has called for reinstating the federal ban on assault weapons in the aftermath of last month’s mass killing of school children at a Connecticut elementary school.