Governor Matt Mead continues to sign bills from Wyoming’s 64th Legislature, but last week he vetoed Original House Bill 137 which would have allowed concealed carry in any government meeting on public property, except for legislative meetings, which could
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TORRINGTON – Governor Matt Mead continues to sign bills from Wyoming’s 64th Legislature, but last week he vetoed Original House Bill 137 which would have allowed concealed carry in any government meeting on public property, except for legislative meetings, which could have set its own rules.
The governor did sign Original house Bill 194 which allows school districts to adopt rules for concealed carry on school property.
In a press release issued following the veto Mead said, “Vetoing any bill is not a decision I take lightly. This bill had flaws.
“House Bill 137 would have allowed concealed carry in any government meetings on public property but, for legislative meetings on public property, would have allowed concealed carry only where permitted. These were not consistent provisions. It was problematical for the Legislature to treat a county commissioner meeting or town council meeting, for example, different from legislative meetings.”
In his letter to Secretary of State Edward Murray outlining his reason for the veto, Mead said the bill removed local control from local governments to govern as they saw fit. He also pointed out that none of the action taken altered the legal “open carry” of firearms
in meetings.
Torrington Mayor Mike Varney said he was “elated” at the governor’s veto. “I did not think it was a very well written bill when they excluded cities, towns and counties from having the option to either stay in it or option out.