BELLEVUE, WA – The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms today is encouraging all Nebraska gun owners to contact the legislature in Lincoln and support Legislative Bill 77, which will make it possible to legally carry a concealed firearm for personal protection, without a state-issued permit.
“This is a pure permitless concealed carry bill,” noted CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb. “Since Nebraska already has open carry, there was no need to include a provision for it in this legislation. The bill has already overcome the first hurdle, passing on a 36-12 vote Monday, but it still has a way to go before it can land on Governor Jim Pillen’s desk.”
LB77 has been in the works for some time, thanks to the efforts of the Nebraska Firearms Owners Association (NFOA), a CCRKBA state affiliate. Gov. Pillen has already indicated he will sign the legislation.
Included in the bill is a preemption clause, and according to NFOA President Patricia Harrold, there is already work being done to provide no-cost firearms safety training for any citizen interested in carrying without a permit. Of course, permits will still be available for Nebraska residents who travel to other states which have reciprocity agreements.
“The past few years have seen a groundswell of support for so-called ‘constitutional carry’,” Gottlieb noted, “and this permitless carry approach also looks to be gaining traction in a few states. Cornhuskers should certainly contact their local legislators and let them know this bill’s progress is being watched carefully.”
The bill still has a couple of hearings to pass, and the NFOA is certain there will be attempts to filibuster, so it is doubly important for Nebraska gun owners to let their voices be heard.
“Passage of LB77 will be a good thing for Nebraska, and another setback for the gun prohibition lobby,” Gottlieb observed. “This legislation will enable law-abiding citizens to exercise their constitutional right to bear arms without having to jump through legislative hoops. Our friends at the NFOA have worked hard to get this far, and we’re proud of their efforts.