Furnas County GOP discusses adult businesses, concealed weapons issues

As the Furnas County Republicans met on Thursday, Sen. Mark Christensen was present to visit with and listen to those in attendance.

Among the legislative bills discussed was LB 443, a bill "relating to adult businesses and sexually oriented businesses that seeks to provide for the regulation of such businesses and to provide penalties" in cases of violations.

In the bill, adult businesses are defined as "a nightclub, bar, restaurant, or another similar establishment in which a person appears in a state of sexually explicit nudity or seminudity in the performance of their duties."

To assist in protecting the public from a wide variety of adverse secondary effects associated with adult and sexually oriented businesses, the bill specifies that no such businesses established after the effective date of the act would be located "within one-fourth mile of a child care facility, a private or public school, a public playground, a public recreational facility, a residence, or a place of worship."

LB 443 is currently before the General Affairs Committee. Constituents may encourage committee members to support passage of the bill to the floor of the Legislature in the near future.

Another bill of interest to the group was LB 889 (Castle Doctrine) which seeks to increase the rights of individual's use of deadly force to protect themselves or a third person from an intruder(s) within their own home. Individuals may contact members of the Judiciary Committee to encourage them to send the bill to the floor of the Legislature.

LB 817, "Exempt concealed handgun permitholders from the requirement that they obtain a certificate to purchase a handgun" was another bill discussed.

The evening ended with a discussion of plans and goals for the 2010 election year. Individuals wishing to contact current office holders may contact Kathy Wilmot, Chair; Beth Hessler, Vice-Chair or Tom Patterson, Treasurer.