CHEYENNE - Wyoming joined the rest of the nation Tuesday in making dogfighting or cockfighting a felony offense.

The tougher penalty for animal fighting was one of 76 laws passed last winter by the Legislature that went into effect Tuesday.

Wyoming was the last state to make animal fighting a felony on first offense. It now is punishable by up to two years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

In addition, under the new law, anyone in possession of dogs or fowl with the intent of fighting, or who knowingly permits or promotes animal fighting, also can be punished under the new law.

Other new laws include:

- Crime Victims' Compensation: The surcharge on criminal fines for crime victims' compensation for municipal violations rises from a $50 minimum to $100-$300. The surcharge for all state crimes and motor vehicle violations for first offense is up from $100 minimum to $150-$350. And for the second and subsequent offenses, the surcharge is now $200-$400.

- Right to bear arms: Employees or agents of the government are not allowed to confiscate firearms from persons who are lawfully carrying them in the existence of an emergency. Additionally, the declaration of an emergency does not allow that government to impose more restrictions on the lawful possession, transfer, sale, carrying, storage or display of firearms and ammunition.

- Ownership of subsurface pore space: Codifies common law so that the owner of the surface estate is identified as the owner of the pore space in all the geological structures below the surface. Pore space can be used to store carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, or other substances. Lawmakers hope this opens new avenues for property owners to make money while keeping greenhouse-producing energy fuels, such as Wyoming coal, viable in a world concerned about global warming.

- Carbon capture and sequestration: This allows the state Department of Environmental Quality to develop standards for regulating long-term geologic storage of carbon dioxide in Wyoming.

- Castle Doctrine: Those who use deadly force in defense of themselves, their property or to prevent injury to another when it is reasonable necessary are granted civil immunity. Codifies common law that says a person in fear of imminent death or serious injury may use deadly force when threatened or when an intruder breaks into a home or is illegally removing someone against his will from the home.

- Length of parole: To reduce overcrowding in state prisons and encourage more inmates to use parole to transition back into society, the Department of Corrections can grant "good time" reductions in the length of sentences for prisoners who comply with the terms of their parole. "Good time" allowances, and the withholding of future "good time" allowances, also are permitted.