LIBERTY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City suburb of Liberty has become the latest in Missouri to repeal its ban on pit bulls as attitudes against the dogs soften.

Voters decided Tuesday to ditch the prohibition that had been on the books for three decades. About two dozen other Missouri cities also have repealed their bans.

Backers of bans say pit bulls are bred to be dangerous, but repeal advocates argue that the restrictions are outdated and arbitrary.

The Liberty Pitbull Alliance began lobbying the city council to repeal the ban three years ago. Member Jessica McKinney says, “The science and all the studies show that pit bulls are not the monstrous breed that has been portrayed by some of the media.”