LB 496 - License to Kill

Before you is an extremely harmful proposed change in state law. This "shall issue" bill would REQUIRE the state to issue permits, for concealed handguns to be carried by individuals in churches, shopping centers, restaurants, theaters, hospitals, vehicles, and while walking on the street without proof of need.

Opposed by Nebraska Law Enforcement, this proposed change in law would endanger our police and good citizens.

LB 496 would have a very negative effect on our state's quality of life, business community, and economic growth.

This while increasing fear, killing, suicides, and mutilation with handguns and having no positive effect whatever.

Nebraska's current and long-standing concealed weapons Statute 28-1202 against carrying a concealed revolver or pistol, along with its affirmative defense for those involved in business, has been a well serving state law since at least 1873.

The Nebraska Supreme Court, in Nugent v. State of Nebraska (1920) and later in State v. Saccomano (1984) ruled (and this ruling needs to be memorized):

"The main purpose of the statute is not only to prevent the carrying of deadly weapons for use, but to prevent the carrying of them at all, because of the opportunity and temptation to use them which arise from concealment."

In 1996 Texas put into effect a law similar to LB 496.

In April 1996, Texas Medicine, (the journal of the Texas Medical Association), addressed the greatly increased liability, regulations, and requirements for doctors, employers, and business owners which resulted from the law.

In the 22 months after the Texas law went into effect, Texas Concealed Permit holders were arrested for 946 crimes, including murder/attempted murder, kidnapping, sexual assault, and drug-related offenses. (Violence Policy Center, 1998)

While proponents of concealed handgun laws deny that licensees will attempt to take the law into their own hands, there were five felony-related arrests in which concealed handgun license holders were arrested for impersonating a police officer. (Violence Policy Center, 1998)

(Texas) DPS data reveals that in the 22 month period 236 concealed handgun license holders were arrested on weapon-related offenses. (Violence Policy Center)

In the first six months of 1997 the weapon-related offense arrest rate among Texas concealed handgun license holders was more than twice as high as that of the general population aged 21 and over. (Violence Policy Center)

Laws restricting access to guns have resulted in a decline in gun homicides and suicides. (New England Journal of Medicine, International Review of Law and Economics)

Laws making it easier to carry concealed weapons have not decreased homicide rates. (Journal Criminal Law)

A report examining the monthly frequency of homicides in the major urban areas of Florida, Mississippi, and Oregon before and after each state liberalized its concealed carry law found that, on average, firearm homicides went up 26 percent in the areas studied, while homicides by other means remained steady. (University of Maryland Violence Research Group)

In 1996 there were 34,040 gun-related deaths in the U.S. 53% of these deaths were suicides, 42% were homicides, and about 3% were unintentional. (National Vital Statistics Reports)

In the one year period from June 1994 to May 1995, an estimated 87,844 persons were treated for nonfatal firearm-related injuries in U.S. hospital emergency rooms. (Annals of Emergency Medicine)

Although John Lott and others have argued that laws making it easier to carry concealed weapons decrease violent crime rates, this conclusion is based on flawed research. (Journal of Legislative Studies, American Journal of Public Health, Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Policy and Research)

Criminals are more likely to carry guns to protect themselves against possibly armed victims. Robbers are more likely to use a gun in cities where gun ownership is higher and robbery homicide rates are higher in those cities. (American Journal of Public Health, Policy Studies Review Annual Vol. 3, The Armed Criminal in America)

If more people in a community carry guns, 85% of non gun owners feel less safe. (Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, Harvard Injury Control Center)

Our state, our businesses, and our good people are too important to be harmed by LB 496.

The very poorly written LB 496 should have never been introduced and it needs to quickly die in the Judiciary Committee before our state's good people are mutilated and die from it.