The state of Nebraska has allowed for lawful concealed carry for less than three weeks (effective Jan 1, 2007) and already cities are trying to kill it. The following story just ran in my local paper, the Aurora News-Register in Hamilton County Nebraska:
The crazy thing is the police chief sounds like the most pro-gun person they interviewed.
For some background, Aurora is a rural community of about 4,300 people in South Central Nebraska. I admit that crime is low, but not non-existent. People here stick their heads in the sand and say "Bad things don't happen here!" Ignorance is bliss, I suppose, but it disgusts me when I hear that. I wish harm on nobody, but some of these people really need a wake-up call.
Anyway, this article made my blood boil and I plan on speaking at a city council meeting regarding. What should I say against this proposed ordinance? Any specific citations or statistics are welcomed.
Currently, the state statute allows businesses and other entities to prohibit concealed weapons if they post the proper signage conspicuously at all entrances. This makes me think a public park would be a difficult place to enforce the prohibition since most parks don't have an "entrance" per se. As for banning weapons at city hall, the state statute prohibits concealed weapons at city council meetings and other such gatherings already.
For those who live in Central NE, apparently the Conestoga Mall in Grand Island prohibits concealed weapons. The irony of that is I feel relatively safe inside the mall, it's the parking lot I'm fearful of.
Any rational, intelligent help you all could provide is greatly appreciated. The next city council meeting is this coming Tuesday, so I need help ASAP.
by Gregory Maker
An ordinance has been proposed in Aurora to limit places where concealed weapons may be carried. Carrying a concealed handgun is now legal in Nebraska due to a statute passed by the state legislature last year. The Aurora City Council approved the first reading of Ordinance No. 856 last week. If implemented, the ordinance would reduce conditions of the statute.
"We couldn't approve the reading as a whole because we were lacking enough votes," said city council president Dick Phillips. "It cannot be finalized until we have a majority." According to state law, communities have to accept the statute but can prohibit or expand on it through ordinances. The statute went into effect on Jan. 1. According to the Nebraska State Patrol website, 130 people in the state have been accepted for a permit including eight at Troop C in Grand Island. "All weapons had to be physically visible under the old law," said Aurora Mayor Marlin Seeman. "This bill has been coming up over the last few years."
Ordinance No. 856 would limit where people could carry handguns in Aurora. Public areas would be off limits if the ordinance were to pass. "There is a place for it, but it doesn't mean it has to be in public places," Seeman said.
The ordinance would make it a crime to carry a permitted handgun in or on the grounds of Aurora City Hall, the wastewater treatment plant, the municipal airport, the public library, the cemetery, the Cellar Youth Center, Streeter Park, Cole Park, and Refshauge Park.
"I respect the right to bear arms," said Aurora Police Chief Godfrey Brokenrope. "I'm in favor of it as long as people go through the proper training."
Brokenrope expressed concern that with the new law, there is the potential for more guns to be carried on the streets. "By law, if a person has a concealed weapon they have to tell us about it at a traffic stop," he said. "I'm concerned at the potential that someone might act irrationally when they are pulled over." People who carry concealed weapons need to inform not only police officers, but members of the fire department, and ambulance workers as well. Officer Chad Mertz held a training session Jan. 10 to update those workers on the new law and train them how to react if such an instance occurs. The ordinance, if passed, would extend beyond the places listed. Since streets, alleyways, and sidewalks are public property, the ordinance would make it a crime to carry a permitted handgun in those areas as well.
"If you pass a city ordinance to include all public streets, the law is in conflict with the statue," Phillips said. Unless signs are posted on public streets informing citizens of the ordinance, it would be unenforceable. City Administrator Mike Bair is not concerned about the conceal and carry law affecting Aurora.
"I'm not worried about it," he said. "The people of Aurora are very law abiding." According to Brokenrope only a handful of handgun incidents have been reported in the six years he has been with the Aurora Police Department. Furthermore, he doesn't expect anything to change when it comes to illegal handguns. "If people are getting guns illegally, they are not going to change regardless of the law," he said. Phillips agreed that the statue will not have much of a change on everyday life in Aurora. "I think Aurora is a pretty conservative town," he said. "I don't see a lot of people going out to get permits." Bair did express concern that the statue has the potential of bringing more handguns to Aurora. His main concern was that people not from Aurora might be bringing concealed handguns into the community. According to Phillips, the ordinance will probably be passed as it is. Before it is passed it will be left open for review at a public council hearing
"We have to see what we liked about it, and reflect to get to know what is best in the public interest," Seeman added.
How to apply
Applications for concealed handgun permits are being accepted by the Nebraska State Patrol during normal business hours at the Criminal Identification Division office in Lincoln or any Troop Area Headquarters
outside of Lincoln. Permit applicants can expect to receive their permits in
the mail approximately 10 days to two weeks after application. A person applying for a permit needs to bring with them a completed and notarized application form, proper identification, proof of training, proof of citizenship, proof of vision, and a permit fee. Troop C consists of the following counties: Adams, Buffalo, Clay, Franklin, Garfield, Greeley, Hall, Hamilton, Howard, Kearney, Merrick, Nuckolls, Polk, Sherman, Valley, Webster, and York.
The crazy thing is the police chief sounds like the most pro-gun person they interviewed.
For some background, Aurora is a rural community of about 4,300 people in South Central Nebraska. I admit that crime is low, but not non-existent. People here stick their heads in the sand and say "Bad things don't happen here!" Ignorance is bliss, I suppose, but it disgusts me when I hear that. I wish harm on nobody, but some of these people really need a wake-up call.
Anyway, this article made my blood boil and I plan on speaking at a city council meeting regarding. What should I say against this proposed ordinance? Any specific citations or statistics are welcomed.
Currently, the state statute allows businesses and other entities to prohibit concealed weapons if they post the proper signage conspicuously at all entrances. This makes me think a public park would be a difficult place to enforce the prohibition since most parks don't have an "entrance" per se. As for banning weapons at city hall, the state statute prohibits concealed weapons at city council meetings and other such gatherings already.
For those who live in Central NE, apparently the Conestoga Mall in Grand Island prohibits concealed weapons. The irony of that is I feel relatively safe inside the mall, it's the parking lot I'm fearful of.
Any rational, intelligent help you all could provide is greatly appreciated. The next city council meeting is this coming Tuesday, so I need help ASAP.