CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - A Wyoming lawmaker is pushing to end the sentence of life without parole, a punishment currently reserved for those convicted of first-degree murder or repeated sexual offenses. Republican Sen. Bruce Burns, of Sheridan, says there are currently more than 20 inmates serving sentences of life without parole in the state. His bill would prohibit such sentences in the future and allow the governor to commute the sentences of those inmates currently serving them.
Burns says he's pushing the bill to give the state a way to get offenders out of the state prison system when they're old so the state won't be responsible for their medical care. Cheyenne District Attorney Scott Homar says he's opposed to the bill. He says some murderers and sex offenders should never walk free.