Legislators in the midwestern state of Nebraska are plowing ahead at full speed toward making their state the 26th in the nation to enact permitless carry laws.
A permitless carry bill – known this term as Legislative Bill 77 – has again been introduced in Nebraska's unicameral legislature, after efforts to pass similar legislation stalled and failed last year.
{RELATED: Half of US States Now Recognize Constitutional Carry}
The National Rifle Association's Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) shared the following about this year's legislation on their website:
“Legislative Bill 77 recognizes that a law-abiding adult who is already legally allowed to carry a concealed firearm can do so without obtaining government permission. This ensures that citizens have the right to self-defense without government fees, red tape, or delays. Additionally, this legislation maintains the existing concealed handgun license system, so citizens who still wish to obtain a permit may do so.”
The NRA – ILA also urged Nebraskans to contact members of the legislature's Judiciary Committee – where the bill has been sent after being reintroduced – and urge them to move the bill forward once again.
The man who could sign such a bill into law is notably different from last year as Nebraskans elected a new Governor last fall. The state's new Governor Jim Pillen was sworn into office earlier this week. Pillen's only experience in public office is serving on the Nebraska Board of Regents so he does not have a concrete legislative track record on any issues including ones pertaining to gun rights.
Former Governor Pete Ricketts shared last April that last year's permitless carry bill “would have reaffirmed Nebraskans' constitutional right to keep and bear arms”, also adding that he was “sorry to see it fail.”
Ricketts and Pillen are both Republicans, and Ricketts supported Pillen in last year's primary election which contained a crowded GOP field.
They should not only have permitless carry, but mandatory carry. No one should be without a weapon wherever they go. We will be shortly introducing a swimming holster so you can carry your weapon while swimming. We will also have a special Sauna holster for those carrying their weapon into the sauna, don’t want to be burned by gun metal.
David R is wrong. You cannot make it mandatory for anyone to carry a gun. While there is a constitutional right to bear arms there is also a right not to bear arms. Besides that there are some people you would not want to be armed.
Permitless Carry, hopefully this will extend to all fifty states, asap.
Bobby ~!~