Nebraska Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action Volunteers Joined Law Enforcement, Public Safety Advocates in Providing Staunch Opposition To Permitless Carry During Session Earlier this Year
The Nebraska chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots network, released the following statement after the Nebraska legislature officially ended its legislative session, adjourning sine die. Lawmakers rejected permitless carry following significant opposition and testimony from Nebraska Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action volunteers, the League of Municipalities, Omaha Police Officers Association, the Lincoln Police Chief, the Nebraska Police Officers Association, and the Police Chiefs Association of Nebraska throughout the legislative process.
“We appreciate that our lawmakers listened to the clear concerns of Nebraskans and law enforcement, who know just how much risk permitless carry could have put our communities in,” said Katie Townley, a volunteer with the Nebraska chapter of Moms Demand Action. “This bill would have done nothing to address our state’s already devastating gun violence crisis. We need real solutions that will save lives and keep us safe, not policies that would put us in danger. We’ll keep fighting against any attempts to weaken gun safety laws.”
“We’re proud that this session, our lawmakers did the right thing and rejected a bill that would have only put our communities in more danger,” said Jayden Speed, a volunteer with Students Demand Action in Nebraska. “Allowing people to carry concealed handguns in public without a permit is dangerous, and would have put our communities at risk. While this session was a huge win, we will keep fighting to create a safer future free from gun violence.”
Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action volunteers took significant action to call on lawmakers to reject permitless carry. Volunteers testified against permitless carry during the legislative process and drove over 800 emails and calls to lawmakers urging them to reject LB773.
Permitless carry laws strip away a critical tool that law enforcement uses to differentiate between responsible gun owners and those who are prohibited from carrying a loaded weapon in public. Permitless carry legislation has been opposed by law enforcement in Nebraska and across the country, including in Alabama, Tennessee, Texas, Louisiana, South Carolina, Indiana, and Ohio.
Learn more about gun violence in Nebraska here.