After fighting off a 14-hour filibuster by opponents, the Nebraska Senate voted yesterday to approve a permitless carry bill, LB 77, by a 33 to 14 vote. The Cornhusker State already has open carry on the books. Governor Jim Pillen is due to sign the bill into law next week making Nebraska the 27th state with constitutional carry on the books.
Gun rights opponents didn’t take the L well. From the AP . . .
The lawmaker most vocal in her opposition to the bill has been Lincoln Sen. Jane Raybould, who pleaded with lawmakers to block the measure. She noted Wednesday that Thursday will be the 24th anniversary of the Columbine High School mass shooting in Colorado that killed 13.
“We talk about gun rights,” Raybould said. “What about the rights of all those adults and children gunned down?”
The bill’s passage drew an emotional response from gun control advocates who filled the north balcony of the legislative chamber for Wednesday’s final debate. One woman stood and yelled “Shame!” several times at lawmakers until she was escorted out by security.
On LB77 from Sen. Tom Brewer, which would allow Nebraskans to carry a concealed weapon without a permit, lawmakers got the 33 votes needed to shut off debate.
(Fixed an unfortunate typo in previous tweet.) pic.twitter.com/Fnd1BpyHGw
— Chris Dunker (@ChrisDunkerLJS) April 19, 2023
Another woman just yelled “We’ll remember you guys” and the said she’d see herself out.
Lt. Gov. Joe Kelly just ordered the balcony cleared.
— Chris Dunker (@ChrisDunkerLJS) April 19, 2023
I’ve heard that Vaccaro was taken to the security office and given a letter informing her she’s been banned from the Capitol unless she makes an appointment and then escorted out of the building.
— Chris Dunker (@ChrisDunkerLJS) April 19, 2023
The bill also strengthens the state’s preemption law. As the bill’s sponsor, Senator Tom Brewer said . . .
“What we do in this body sometimes is trying to follow through with the will of the people and give them the rights that they have in the Constitution,” Brewer said. “And sometimes we go out of the way and twist those rights and keep people from having them, and I think (the concealed carry permit) is a case of that.”
