Nebraska gun freedoms?

[kungfuhippie]

Nebraska THR members,
I am looking at a job in Omaha with Union Pacific after I graduate. I know the gun laws are much better in Nebraska than here in California. What I want to know is what laws are there that drive you Nebraska residents crazy. Brady Campaign only gave Nebraska a grade of "C", while other neighboring states got a healthy "F".

So basically tell me what gun legalities you love or hate about your state.

Thanks

 

[strat81]

(reposted from my arfcom post)

Do yourself a favor and move as far away from Omaha city limits as possible while still maintaining a reasonable commute. The reason being that Omaha has been physically growing, literally swallowing up small towns in its wake. Read up on what happened to the City of Elkhorn.
Omaha requires handguns to be registered with local PD (not sure about long guns). Omaha also requires an open carry permit (if you so choose to carry). The city is very unfriendly towards guns: that's why the new Cabela's went up outside of Omaha city limits in La Vista. LaVista is also home to The Bullet Hole, a pretty decent indoor range just off I-80 that does a lot of black rifle/pistol stuff.

Beware! NE does not have statewide preemption for CHPs. The result is a patchwork of laws where CCW is allowed/disallowed. This pdf http://handgunlaw.us/documents/NECityLaws.pdf lists many, but not all, of the city regs. Be sure not to move to any of those towns. For more on NE CHPs, visit www.ccwne.com. A good instructor is Paul Horvick, he posts here.

NFA is state legal, but your CLEO may not like them. If they don't, just go the trust route.

As an "outsider" myself (from NYC), I have found that Nebraska is NOT pro-gun. It is pro-hunting. There is a difference, and it'll become clear when you bring a black rifle to a range. This place really is Fudd central. I know the gun club outside Louisville (Easter Nebraska GC??) runs 3-gun matches, if that's your thing.

That being said, real estate prices are relatively decent. If you want an acreage, it won't set you back a kidney and the Omaha job market has been doing pretty well.

Good Luck!!

 

[kungfuhippie]

Well then, I think I'll either live out the 1 year training requirement and relocate or look for a different railroad job.

To contrast this:
CA has a state wide handgun registration, but no local stuff, and the ccw laws are consistent, though getting a ccw is hard in many counties. I'd have to live within an hour of the office in Omaha, but that probably means I can live outside city limits.

Wow, the grass doesn't look much greener...

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

Omaha has CCW---just take the State course and you're good to go.

You would have to register your pistol with OPD---relatively painless---and $10. NO long gun registration.

There is a State Pistol Purchase card you'll need---relatively painless again---$5---good for 3 years-----once you have the card --you avoid all NICS BS when buying long guns.

Eastern Nebraska GC---blows the big one

Go to Weeping Water GC---AR's and military weapons welcome there.
http://www.weepingwatergunclub.com/

 

[strat81]

Wow, the grass doesn't look much greener...

Nebraska isn't the best (as I stated), but it is better than Cali. Iowa is worse: no rifles during deer season (so I've been told) and they are may-issue. NE is shall issue, but certain cities (Kearney, Holdrege, Columbus, Seward) prohibit them. However, the two biggest cities, Lincoln & Omaha, ironically do not. We're working to get preemption passed, but there hasn't been a huge response to CHPs. I believe around only 2,000 permits have been issued since Jan 1, 2007 when the law went into effect.

-I know at least 2 CLEOs that are NFA friendly.
-We can have 15, 30, or 100-round magazines, brand new.
-There are no lists of "approved" guns.
-AR-15s, AK-47s, and SKSs don't have to be neutered.
-Lotsa gun shows.
-Pro-hunting. If it flies, it dies. If it's brown, it's down.

Be careful where you move in Omaha, if you go inside city limits. Certain areas are... uh... less than pleasant. I just read an article about a big crackdown local LE did on MS-13 in Omaha.

 

[kungfuhippie]

Oh I'm not saying California is better. Believe me that it's hard to find worse laws. NJ, IL, NY, MA all are worse IMO.

So seeing as how I can probably get out into the suburbs of Omaha, what areas do you recommend I avoid? I really don't mind a commute (I drive 1 hr. each way now) if it gets me into a better community and better rules.

 

[strat81]

I'd look at LaVista, maybe. I'm about 1 1/2 hours from Omaha so I can't say for sure. I'd ask the guys at www.ccwne.com. A lot of them are from the eastern part of the state and could give you a more informed opinion.

One consideration is if you want to live in a small town. My town is only 4,200 people and as a former city boy, I don't really like it. But, some folks LOVE IT.

 

[ColinthePilot]

I already asked in another thread, but what are the laws regarding carrying in your vehicle? does the gun and ammo have to be separate, do you need a CCW? It sounds like the laws are far from consistent across the state. I might be making a trip to Lincoln in the next few months I need to know what I have to do with my pistol. I'm all about carrying, but I'm more about keeping my right to keep and bear. Thanks!

 

[captainamerica]

CCW can't be locally prohibited but open carry is (even though it appears this is illegal). Car carry of CCW or OC (except where prohibited locally) is okay.

Watch border states such as IA that do NOT recognize the NE CCW permit.

If you hunt you will be in midwest hunting paradise with access to a lot of locations in and outside of NE. Fishing, too.

I'd choose NE over CA any day of the week.

 

[cracked junior]

nebraska requires handgun purchase permit to purhcase hanguns. you go to the local law enforcement. sheriffs dept worked for me. cost 5 dollars for the background check, wait a couple days. you got a permit to purchase handguns. you dont need a permit to buy long guns. but for some reason it helps when buying long guns.

unless you have ccw. guns must be unloaded and in plainview. as in dashboard or passenger seat.

 

[strat81]

CCW can't be locally prohibited but open carry is (even though it appears this is illegal). Car carry of CCW or OC (except where prohibited locally) is okay.

CCW CAN be prohibited by local jurisdictions. Carrying a concealed handgun even with the state-issued permit is ILLEGAL in many Nebraska cities such as Kearney, Hastings, and Columbus. The NE CCW statute does NOT have preemption over local jurisdictions.

Open carry is legal everywhere in the state but is very uncommon. Omaha requires you to have an open carry permit. No matter where you do it, expect to be hassled and possibly detained.

Carrying a loaded handgun in a car in Nebraska is also illegal unless you have a concealed handgun permit. If not, it must be secured, unloaded in the trunk or similar lockable container.

 

[kungfuhippie]

This is some good info.

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

Actually---you can carry a loaded rifle in the car----but not a loaded shotgun due to game laws.

It used to be you could open carry (loaded) on the dash or seat in any location-----I'm not sure if the new CCW law changed that or not.

 

[Mikee Loxxer]

You wouldn’t have to live in Omaha proper. I have a friend whose brother works for UP in Omaha (Douglas County) but has a house in Bellevue Nebraska (Sarpy County). In fact I have other gun loving friends in the Omaha area who just don’t live in Douglas County. You can work in Omaha just don’t live there (unless you like registering your handguns with OPD). As far as I know you don’t have to register long guns in Omaha just handguns. Also they do not sell handguns in Omaha.

Aside from that Nebraska is OK. There are some issues with concealed carry reciprocity but for the most part Nebraska is better than a lot of states. We can have high capacity magazines, NFA items and the like. Restrictions on concealed carry are what most gunnies don’t like about it here.

I can’t really line up with strats assessment about any aversions to black rifles. I have lived here all of my life and found very few ardently anti-gun types. Heck my gun club (Weeping Water) is all about military/tactical shooting. Nebraska is probably more pro-hunter than pro-gun but save for one instance no one has taken exception to any of my military type rifles at the range. Lots of people here have AR’s and AK’s. Every time I go home to visit my folks( also in Nebraska) the neighbor across the street is either toting an EBR (with magazine in it) or wearing a sidearm.

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

I can assure you that they most certainly sell hanguns inside Omaha city limits.

Sol's---Guns Unlimited and Scheel's come to mind right away---all are in the city---all sell handguns.

 

[Mikee Loxxer]

Hmm.. I must have been misinformed with respect to the sales of handuns in Omaha.

 

[strat81]

While researching this, I came across this:
http://uniweb.legislature.ne.gov/LegalDocs/view.php?page=s6006344000

It shall be unlawful for the owner of a snowmobile to permit such snowmobile to be operated contrary to the provisions of sections 60-6,320 to 60-6,346 or for purposes of carrying a shotgun or rifle thereon unless such shotgun or rifle is unloaded and encased.

Odd. So, yeah, no loaded long guns on your snow mobiles!

 

[Zundfolge]

Omaha is on the Nebraska-Iowa border ... would Iowa be better? You're also just up the road from Missouri (and the extreme North end of the Kansas City metroplex).

Having grown up in Kansas I can tell you that part of the country is an enigma ... how people can be so socially conservative yet so completely hard core leftist when it comes to gun rights has always been a mystery to me.

 

[kungfuhippie]

long response.

Odd. So, yeah, no loaded long guns on your snow mobiles!

well if I just don't get a snow mobile I can avoid that issue completely.

I was looking at a few places and...correct me if I'm wrong. It appears that NE is an instant background check state, meaning you can take a gun home that day. I don't mind a handgun buying permit, at the moment I have something similar and my handguns get registered with the Cal-stopo. Anyway, I've really been warming up to the idea of moving there after school. I drove through Ne about 10 years ago and remember how nice a place it seemed. It's really exciting to see very nice homes selling for $175,000 when the same thing here with no land would go for $375,000-500,000. I could actually afford a home Oh and the homes I've seen online have basements and big yards, you can't find those anywhere in southern california.

I was looking at La Vista, Chalco, Papillion, and Bellevue. They seem to be nice areas. I don't plan to live inside Omaha limits. Are there any suburbs (if that's what they're called there) that I should avoid? Also, I have relatives in Council Bluffs. They keep pressuring me to move close by (they're in Glenwood) I don't want to work in one state and live in another. And it seems that Iowa is a little less gun friendly. What other reasons are there to give them since gun laws won't work it explaining to them?

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

The state pistol purchase permit gets you out of all that instant check BS---just show em your card---they write the permit number on the 4473----and off you go---after paying of course.

Too many fences for snowmobiles---that barb wire fence will slice your head clean off---no problem.

 

[kungfuhippie]

The state pistol purchase permit gets you out of all that instant check BS---just show em your card---they write the permit number on the 4473----and off you go---after paying of course.

So, since there is no 10 day wait like in California the streets are red with blood from all the shooting?

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

We've had a couple drive-by's in the bad part of town recently-----once it gets cold---that kind of non-sence will stop. Its been a mild fall---I love global warming myself.

 

[strat81]

Omaha is on the Nebraska-Iowa border ... would Iowa be better? You're also just up the road from Missouri (and the extreme North end of the Kansas City metroplex).

Not really, at least based on CCW. Iowa is may-issue and Nebraska is shall-issue. Kansas City Metro isn't very commutable from Omaha. Maybe for a weekend jaunt, but not a trip I'd like to make everyday.

Having grown up in Kansas I can tell you that part of the country is an enigma ... how people can be so socially conservative yet so completely hard core leftist when it comes to gun rights has always been a mystery to me.

I agree! See my pro-hunting/pro-gun comment above. IMHO, every gun in the state could be outlawed but if they loaned out deer rifles and pheasant guns for the seasons, people wouldn't care. Mikee Loxxer has had a different experience than I have... I tend to associate with hunters more than EBR folks (and not by choice!).

It appears that NE is an instant background check state, meaning you can take a gun home that day. I don't mind a handgun buying permit,

Correct. Your permit is your background check. I think they're valid for 3 or 5 years, cost $5, and you get it in less than a week from your CLEO. The application reads just like a 4473. I came from NYC, so the Nebraska permit process blew my mind.

I was looking at La Vista, Chalco, Papillion, and Bellevue. They seem to be nice areas.

Yup. I don't think any of those are "No CCW" cities. Be aware, the farther from Omaha you live, the cheaper it costs. There should be plenty of smaller towns near by if that's your thing. Pull out a map and cross-reference that with Census figures. Of course, living in a small town means sacrificing the conveniences of having a Wal-mart 5 minutes away or having 15 choices for dining out.

So, since there is no 10 day wait like in California the streets are red with blood from all the shooting?

Nope, no blood. I don't have to wait 10 days to buy a 17-round handgun that I plan on legally concealing on my way to the range to fire a pistol-gripped M4gery with a 30-round mag and bayonet.

Rent first, see what areas you like, then buy. If you do come out, ping me and we'll go shooting or something.

 

[kungfuhippie]

Nope, no blood. I don't have to wait 10 days to buy a 17-round handgun that I plan on legally concealing on my way to the range to fire a pistol-gripped M4gery with a 30-round mag and bayonet.

Now that's just bragging. Let me try. Today it was about 70 degrees and sunny. It should be that way for a few more weeks.

Rent first, see what areas you like, then buy. If you do come out, ping me and we'll go shooting or something.

I plan to rent for a year to make sure I didn't lose my mind when I decided to move half way across the country. I'd be more than happy to go shooting once I'm out there. Give me some time to get some worthwhile guns and normal capacity magazines too.

 

[cracked junior]

it was 58 and sunny around here. it will last, umm check back in 10 minutes. weather in nebraska changes alot. one day it could 70 and sunny. the next day 20 with blowing snow. then the next day 60 with melting snow.