Editors Note: All readers should be very cautious about attending protests or rallies in the coming few days as we are receiving many reports that these events will be false flag operations. Not one of our high-profile & highly-respected pro-gun groups has endorsed or been involved in the planning of any of these events. Do not attend. Instead we recommend all patriots go to their local gun or rifle range and train.
U.S.A. –-(AmmoLand.com)- There are few Governors who unabashedly support the exercise of Second Amendment rights at protests inside their own state Capitol buildings. Governor Pete Ricketts of Nebraska is one of them.
On 12 January 2021, Governor Pete Ricketts gave a press conference about how the Covid19 protective measures.
At about 42:11 in the video, a reporter asks about potential “armed protestors” at the Capitol. From Governor Ricketts:
So, If people want to protest and bring their guns, obviously open carry is allowed in Nebraska. But I would suggest that everybody remember that we have a pandemic going on, and a protest should be done peacefully, also be thoughtful, that people are nervous about bringing guns out, and be thoughtful about that as well.
In another clip from the press conference, Governor Ricketts referenced the second Amendment. That was in a seven-second clip from wowt.com:
and, again, it is a Second Amendment right, it is in the Constitution.
This isn’t the first time Governor Ricketts has come out in support of Second Amendment rights, against the media narrative. On February 21st, 2020, Governor Ricketts showed political courage and stood for Second Amendment rights and open carry.
Nebraska Republican State Senator Suzanne Geist, District 25, was also willing to speak up when asked about the issue from KETV on a Youtube video:
We know that some are saying it will be an armed protest. And frankly, that’s also their right as well. That is legal in our state.
Nebraska is an open-carry state. The State has a strong state constitutional protection of the right to keep and bear arms. Governor Pete Ricketts affirmed the right in a webpage dated 18 February, 2020:
“The right to keep and bear arms for security or defense of self, family, home, and others, and for lawful common defense, hunting, recreational use, and all other lawful purposes…shall not be denied or infringed by the state or any subdivision thereof.”
On the same webpage, Governor Ricketts comes out strongly against “red flag” laws:
While Nebraska has a long tradition of protecting Second Amendment rights, it’s important to be vigilant against legislative attempts to erode them. LB 58, a bill currently under consideration by the Legislature, would infringe on your right to bear arms in Nebraska. The so-called “Red Flag Law” would permit household members or law enforcement to go before a court to “flag” someone as unfit to have a firearm. Based on this allegation, the court could then order a search of the property of law-abiding citizens and the seizure of any guns found. The court order would also prevent the “flagged” person from purchasing a firearm. Under LB 58, all of this could take place prior to the accused persons having the opportunity to defend themselves in court! This is a clear violation of due process rights under the guise of public safety. LB 58 would create a judicial weapon for anti-gun activists who wish to roll back the gun rights enshrined in both our federal and state constitutions.
It is refreshing to hear a state governor carefully and consistently defend the right to keep and bear arms.
Related: President Trump Calls For Peace: There Must Be No Violence
About Dean Weingarten:
Dean Weingarten has been a peace officer, a military officer, was on the University of Wisconsin Pistol Team for four years, and was first certified to teach firearms safety in 1973. He taught the Arizona concealed carry course for fifteen years until the goal of Constitutional Carry was attained. He has degrees in meteorology and mining engineering, and retired from the Department of Defense after a 30-year career in Army Research, Development, Testing, and Evaluation.
We need more politicians like this man. It’s refreshing to have someone understand that laws actually mean as they were written.
WsingtonState’s Constitutoin declares that citizens have the RIGHT to attend and watch ALL congressional gatherings, sessions, debates, etc. and opportunity to have input and comment upon proposed legislation. It has also been fully legal for anyone with the Mother May I Card to carry concealed in the Capitol buildings, including the House and Senate DURING SESSION. I’ve done this, even attended a bill signing by the governor, armed. Fully legal. As of last week, our stupid anti-citizen and anti0constituion governor hath issued a papal bull declaring the entire legislative building closed to the piblc, no arms permitted, normal folks cannot… Read more »
Gov. Ricketts is a true American who understands the Constitution.
I live in an open carry state but I prefer conceal carry because I believe in keeping the bad guys wondering. The element of surprise is a big factor in any battle.
That being said, I’m glad my state allows open carry, only free people have choices.
I think a few things from the article need to be clarified: While the state is open carry, local jurisdictions can and do restrict this. In Omaha for example you can only open carry if you have a CHP. There is a statewide requirement for a handgun purchase permit, this is administered at the county level and waived for anyone with a CHP. Some cities like Omaha require registration of handguns, again CHP holders are exempt. With that said, I think Ricketts is a good governor for the most part. He pro-constitution including 2A, I think he has done a… Read more »
My kind of politician, and I can’t remember the last time I said those words.
Nebraska has always been a decent state, but they do need to free up some things. I live in SD and have Traveled in Neb. many times over the past 50 years. When SD first came out with a CC Permit I got one and still have one. Now that was about 40 years ago, and about 4 years ago I planned a few trips that would take me by the way of Neb. This was a Shooting trip in NM and I would have my normal CC, plus my dedicated Car Pistol and Carbine, and a bunch of other… Read more »
instead of some comolicated national concealed carry” law, which each state could then modify and restirct at will, how’s about an addendum to that slightly “misinterpreted” Second Article of Ammendment, to the end that any lawful resident ingood standing who cal lawfully posssess arems under federal law cannot be denied or have restricted in any way their right to possess, bear, carry about upon their persons, travel with, (and a few more such clarificatioins) by any state ir lesser subdivision in the nation. BOOM, now the Second is clarified to include all the activities originally intended, but elgalesed out of… Read more »
i met pete and he is a good guy with a good head. go pete
“… a clear violation of due process rights under the guise of public safety.” This is simply another instance of DemocRat idiocy. Who’s surprised?