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Firearms Preemption Law Would Bring Needed Uniformity According to Some

A firearms preemption bill currently before the State Legislature, LB 68 – introduced by State Senator Mike Hilgers -- would allow only the state to pass laws related to firearms ownership and carrying.  

It would also nullify any existing ordinances related to gun ownership or carrying in Nebraska towns, cities or villages. Local municipalities would be allowed to continue to regulate the use of a weapon within city limits

A call to Senator Hilgers’ office was not returned.

Rod Moeller, Director of Government Affairs for the Nebraska Firearms Owners Association, says LB 68 is needed to establish uniformity across the state.  He says some municipalities prevent gun ownership due to misdemeanors which in other areas would not prevent gun ownership. He says Lincoln has 31 of these.

“Things such as having a concealed weapons charge, which could be something as simple as having had a pocket knife that measured half an inch or an eighth of an inch over the legal limit of 3 ½ inches. It’s legal to have it, but not to have it concealed.  If you have that on your record in the past 10 years, that would equate to no gun ownership for you in the city of Lincoln.”

Lancaster County Sheriff Terry Wagner supports this bill -- with some reservations.  He says the lack of uniformity between City, County and State “disqualifiers” for handgun ownership, for example, can create a lot of confusion. However, he says in its current form, the bill would not allow local governments to make firearms regulations for government buildings, which is something he feels needs to be changed.  

For more information, see Nebraskalegislature.gov