Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead: NJ Gun Control Law Affects Whole Nation

Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead says his state is leading the charge to support a man challenging New Jersey's tight gun ownership restrictions because the law has "broader ramifications" that would affect gun rights across the nation.

Mead, appearing on the Steve Malzberg Show on Newsmax TV, was asked about Wyoming's move to spearhead an effort by 19 states and the NRA to support New Jersey resident John Drake and his lawsuit challenging New Jersey's restrictive "justifiable need" standard for carrying a weapon outside the home.

"We have many other states joining us, and not just Republican states. We have states with Democrat attorney generals who are also joining in on this," the governor said.

"We are proudly a gun state and respect the Second Amendment. What we saw in New Jersey isn't so much a criticism of New Jersey if it's just New Jersey. But it looked to us that it would have broader ramifications if left to go forward without being challenged.

"So we thought it was important to weigh in and we're hopeful that the Supreme Court hears it. We've asked for that to happen and we're hopeful that we have good results."

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Mead, who is up for re-election this November, commented on possible Republican presidential candidates for 2016.

"I’ve got an extreme bias toward governors … they know what it's like to make hard decisions. They know what it's like to actually balance a budget — have a budget first of all and have a balanced budget,"

"There are some great Republican governors who are currently serving, and while I myself would never want to move out of Wyoming, I certainly hope some of those Republican governors step up.

"Governors, all things being equal, I'd rather have a governor in the White House than somebody that's not had that experience."

Mead said he has discussed with other lawmakers the ongoing tweaks President Barack Obama has made to the Affordable Care Act.

While he doesn't believe the changes and delays are legal, there is probably little that can be done, according to Mead.

"It's a mystery to me how it's allowed to happen but my attorney general and others say that it's a hard case to press," he said.

"It's got to be a frustration for businesses and everyone else to not have the predictability that laws on the books will be enforced in an even hand and with accountability.... It's bad business in my view."

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