Many of you contacted my office over the last several weeks to voice your opposition to Legislative Bill 958, which dealt with gun regulations in Nebraska. My staff and I conveyed my opposition to LB958 because it would put in place unnecessary regulations on law-abiding gun owners and do nothing to stop criminals from committing violent crimes. Last Wednesday, I ended up voting for LB958 after a couple of amendments changed it considerably. I feel like the district and especially those of you who sought out my position on this bill deserve an explanation of what happened and why I voted for the advancement of the bill to Select File.

As previously stated, LB958 as introduced, was absolutely the wrong solution for reducing gun violence. It burdened law-abiding gun owners instead of criminals. The Judiciary committee amendment, AM1964, would have overhauled the bill to create an Assault Weapons Commission to put together a list of assault weapons that were illegal, infringing on our rights to bear arms. Again, this amendment focused on the gun and not the criminal.

Then, shortly before the bill was going to hit the floor, we found out about an amendment, AM2235, which was a compromise. Many senators, including myself, were not aware that a compromise was in the works between Sen. Ashford and some of the Second Amendment supporters, like the NRA. If there was confusion among senators, I can only imagine the problems concerned gun owners were having trying to keep up with the changes. The new amendment, AM2235, stripped all the assault weapon issues and gave directions to the Nebraska Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice (Crime Commission) to study firearm-related violence in Nebraska and give recommended changes to the Legislature. In addition, it would create a hotline to report lost or stolen firearms, change the retention of mental health records to 10 years instead of five years, and repeal the permit to purchase law.

An additional amendment by Sen. Erdman improved the AM2235 by removing the directive for the Crime Commission to report recommended changes to the Legislature. Instead, the commission is to report its findings.

It appeared to me that these amendments dramatically changed the bill to where I could support the bill. I felt this way, because the only real substantive portion was the repeal of the permit to purchase that I thought many gun owners thought was overkill and was not needed anymore.

As a strong supporter of our right to bear arms in the United States Constitution and the Nebraska Constitution, I have no intention to support any laws that infringe on those rights. I assure you that if I believed the amended version of this bill would harm these rights in any way I would fight against it. I would appreciate hearing your thoughts after looking over the bill in its current form.

In addition, LB1094, which provides assistance for NRDs to pay farmers, advanced smoothly to Select File last week and advanced without incident to Final Reading this Monday. A lot of work off the microphone paid off and helped get a strong majority on board for its advancement.

I would also like to make a correction from my Thursday morning district conference call in regards to a statement I made about the State Fair issue. I stated that nothing much was happening with the State Fair issue and there may not be anything done this session. I was mistaken. Currently, there is not much movement, but I was assured that there will be a proposal for the Legislature to consider yet this session.

Please do not hesitate to contact me regarding any questions or concerns.