CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — The Senate Judiciary Committee has endorsed a bill that would ban deadly weapons in Wyoming courtrooms.

House Bill 216 was unanimously recommended for approval by the committee on Wednesday. It now goes the full Senate for debate.

The proposal before the Senate makes having deadly weapons in courtrooms a misdemeanor on first offense. The penalty would be imprisonment for up to a year, a $5,000 fine or both.

The Associated Press reports that the Senate panel approved an amendment to the bill that sets the penalty for subsequent offenses at not more than two years behind bars, a $5,000 fine or both.

The ban would not apply to jury rooms or other parts of the courthouse.

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