Cheyenne Mayor Rick Kaysen and the Wyoming Association of Municipalities [WAM] want changes made in a Wyoming House bill that would repeal gun-free zones for government meetings in the state.

House Bill 86 would allow people to carry concealed weapons into government meetings ranging from the state legislature to local city council and county commission meetings. The bill was approved Monday by the House Judiciary Committee and is currently pending in the house.

The mayor and WAM want the bill changed to allow local governments to opt out of the gun free zone repeal--or maintain the gun free zones if they choose.

Kaysen says such a change is not a challenge to the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, adding ''I think we all believe in that strongly." But he says it would  "allow government to conduct it's business for the people without having the idea of having some type of weapon in the chambers."

The mayor notes that while there is always a uniformed police officer present at all regular Cheyenne City Council meetings, that isn't always the case at council committee meetings. The mayor says various government meetings across the state may or may not have and armed police officers present for protection.

Supporters of the bill say it gives state residents the ability to defend themselves and others from armed attacks by criminals or terrorists.

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