As lawmakers return to Lincoln on Wednesday for opening day of Nebraska’s legislative session, they will have an opportunity to pass common-sense gun safety bills starting with LB 58, Extreme Risk Protection Order legislation. The bill was introduced last January and has already had a hearing in the Judiciary Committee. There is a clear path forward to passing this legislation, which could prevent deadly gun violence in Nebraska.
Here’s what to know about the policy:
Extreme Risk Protection Order Legislation
- Nationally, 85 percent of respondents in a recent study favored Congressional lawmakers passing an extreme risk bill, as well as 78 percent of gun owners. Additionally, 17 states and DC have enacted extreme risk laws, or red flag laws, including the neighboring state of Colorado.
- Extreme risk laws have been proven to save lives. This legislation would empower loved ones or law enforcement officers to intervene in order to temporarily prevent someone in crisis from accessing firearms.
- Extreme risk laws have been shown to be an effective tool in preventing gun suicides. In an average year, 70.8% of all gun deaths in Nebraska were suicides. More shockingly in Nebraska, an average of 15 children and teens die by guns every year, and 59% of these deaths are suicide.
Statistics about gun violence in Nebraska are available here, and information on how Nebraska’s gun laws compare to other states’ overall is available here.
If you have questions, or to request an interview with a volunteer from Nebraska Moms Demand Action, please don’t hesitate to reach out.