Nebraska Unicameral passes first bill of session
Bill allows for concealed carry of firearms without permit or training
Legislative Bill 77, passed by the Nebraska Legislature on April 18, will allow individuals in Nebraska to carry concealed handguns without a permit and prohibit certain firearm regulations by cities, villages, and counties.
LB 77 was sponsored by Senator Tom Brewer, a retired Army colonel and representative of north-central Nebraska, who has spent seven years trying to pass similar legislation. His purpose for the bill was to resolve confusion about where concealed carry is permitted in Nebraska due to differing local restrictions.
The bill will specifically impact the cities of Lincoln and Omaha which have enforced stricter city gun ordinances, supported by police chiefs and unions who state the ordinances help them prevent some gang-related violent crime.
The bill met resistance from several groups, including the mayors and police chiefs of Lincoln and Omaha, who argue that cities need different public safety approaches than rural Nebraska.
LB 77 received the necessary 33 votes to overcome a filibuster after 14 hours, which it received from the Unicameral’s 32 Republicans and one Democrat, Omaha representative Mike McDonnell. The bill then passed in a 33-14 vote. McDonnel is the former president of a union representing firefighters and states that he supported the bill because Brewer worked with local law enforcement unions to address their concerns with the bill.
Brewer met with the Omaha Police Officers Association, and from their recommendations amended the bill to clarify that individuals who commit felonies will lose their right to carry a gun and will face felony charges for gun possession and repeatedly refusing to disclose a concealed handgun to law enforcement will also result in felony charges. Sgt. Anthony Connor stated, “We were glad he worked with us, but it would be inaccurate to say we support the bill. Senator Brewer said he would work with us in the future if we see problems.”
Carrying a concealed firearm is still restricted from specific places including churches, hospitals, banks, schools, government buildings and courtrooms. With the passage of the bill, individuals will be restricted from carrying concealed handguns at government meetings, political rallies, major sporting events, police stations, jails or prisons.
LB 77 is the first bill passed by the Nebraska Legislature during the 90-day session. Only 26 days remained for the session at the time of its passage. As of Tuesday, April 18, only 10 bills have advanced to the third round of debate needed to pass the bill. Last year by this point in the session, the legislature had passed 74 bills. This is due to an increased number of filibusters in protest of a bill that bans gender-affirming care for transgender minors. In response to the bottleneck of bills, there is a motion to extend debate to go into the night. Senators have also started to “christmas-tree” bills, which involves adding bills as amendments into other bills and passing them in a package.
By: Aubrey Benton