Victory for Public Safety: Nebraska Legislators Reject Dangerous Gun Bills, Including Proposal That Would Have Stripped Cities of the Ability to Enact Common-Sense Local Public Safety Laws

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today applauded state legislators for rejecting three gun bills that would have undermined public safety in Nebraska. Today’s close of the legislative session marked the defeat of the following bills:

• LB 68, a punitive preemption bill that would have stripped cities and towns of the ability to enact or enforce local public safety laws related to guns, and let out-of-state special interest groups sue localities at Nebraska taxpayers’ expense. More information about LB 68 is available here.
  
• LB 502, which would have repealed Nebraska’s requirement of a permit in order to carry concealed handguns in public.
  
• LB 370, which would have eliminated the Nebraska law requiring background checks for all handgun sales. LB 370 was withdrawn in January.

In March, Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund and the Nebraska chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America released a poll conducted by SurveyUSA that found that 62 percent of Nebraskans – including the majority of gun owners and poll respondents from both major parties – opposed punitive preemption legislation. The poll found 71 percent of respondents, including 63 percent of permit holders, opposed removing Nebraska’s requirement of a permit in order to carry concealed handguns in public.

STATEMENT FROM JAN HOBBS, VOLUNTEER WITH THE NEBRASKA CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA:

“Once again, our lawmakers have taken a stand for the safety of the communities they represent. They heeded the guidance of law enforcement groups and local governments, rejecting a bill that would have taken away our cities’ authority to enforce gun safety laws. And they recognized the dangers of bills that would have stripped Nebraska’s handgun background check and concealed carry permit requirements – sensible laws that protect us while respecting the rights of responsible gun owners. Nebraska lawmakers have made clear they won’t be bullied into passing reckless legislation that would make all of us less safe.”