U.S.A. –-(AmmoLand.com)- The Constitutional Carry bill for Nebraska, LB 773 has failed to pass cloture on the filibuster. It is dead for 2022.
On March 11, 2022, the Nebraska legislature passed LB 773 with the required 33 votes to overcome the filibuster in the State’s unicameral legislature. Nebraska’s only legislative chamber is the Senate. After the bill was assured of passage, three senators switched their votes, presumably to avoid criticism for voting against the bill in the first place.
On April 11, LB 773, the Nebraska Constitutional Carry bill failed to pass the vote for closure of the filibuster with 31 votes for, 9 votes against, 6 votes present but not voting, and three votes excused and not voting. The bill needed 33 votes to enforce cloture and move forward.
Nebraska’s unique system requires each bill to run the gauntlet of three chances to filibuster, the General session (passed on March 11), the Special session (failed). The final vote became unnecessary.
This ends the chance for Constitutional carry in 2022, in spite of the best efforts of Representative Brewer, who sponsored the bill, and Senate Speaker Mike Hilgers. An earlier vote on April 11 failed to pass Senator Brewer’s attempt at compromise, amendment AM2106. The amendment would have allowed Omaha to retain an abbreviated version of its current gun registration system.
The three senators who switched their votes during the last cloture vote on the bill, on March 11 were instrumental in the cloture vote losing on April 11.
- Senator Carol Blood of District 3, was present but did not vote.
- Senator Jen Day of District 49 voted against cloture.
- Senator John McCollister of District 20, was present but did not vote.
Any two of the three senators, had they voted for the bill, as they changed their votes on March 11, would have passed the bill on April 11.
Senator Justin Wayne, who voted against the closure on March 11, voted for cloture this time. It wasn’t enough.
Passing a bill with a two-thirds majority, three times, is a difficult obstacle to overcome, especially when politicians of the most populous city in the state (Omaha) are against you.
Only nine Nebraska Senators had enough belief against Constitutional Carry to actually vote against the bill. Three of those Senators, Bostar; Hansen M.; and Morefeld; have districts that include major parts of Lincoln. The other six, Cavanaugh, J.; Cavanaugh, M.; Day; Deboer; Hunt; and Lathrop; all have major parts of Omaha and the surrounding metropolitan area in their districts.
Of the three excused, not voting, Senator Pahls has a serious illness and has not been available for weeks. Senators Pansing Brooks and Vargus had been available earlier in the day. A reliable source informed the author both are running for Congress and did not want to be associated with the vote.
Between 15 and 20 Nebraska senators will be up for election in 2022. The votes are now on record.
Voters in Nebraska will have the chance to elect an even more Second Amendment friendly Senate in 2022. Constitutional Carry will almost certainly end 2022 with a gain of four members to the club.
Alabama, Indiana, and Ohio have passed Constitutional Carry bills this year.
Governor Kemp is scheduled to sign Georgia’s SB 319 on Tuesday, April 12, 2022. When he does, there will be 25 members of the Constitutional Carry club in the United States, half of all the states in the Union.
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.
Dean, Great work as usual. Name names. Shine the light on the cowards and the paid off adversaries of fundamental liberties. Name them. Shame them. These clowns think they can scheme in darkness. Shine the light on them. primary them and drive them out of politics. That is the answer. Great analysis on this. Thank you
Chickenschitz!
We already have a Constitution with 2A guarantees. There is no need for a bill. Carry on!
I can’t even BELIEVE that there are bills out there called “Constitutional carry bills”. It is IDIOTIC. SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED is the CONSTITUTION PROHIBITION against ANYTHING that goes against it. Sometimes I feel like I’m living on THIS planet…
Never forget who influenced these legislators:
“The Omaha Police Officers Association had testified against LB 773 earlier this year, saying that as originally drafted, it would harm police efforts to combat street gangs.
Meanwhile, the Lincoln Police Department remains opposed to the bill, as does a state police chiefs’ association.”
https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/03/11/after-emotional-vote-constitutional-carry-gun-bill-advances-to-second-round-debate/
Three enforcer organizations lobbied against this bill and influenced legislators.
Where are all the quiet, good apples? Neil Miller, President of the Nebraska Sheriffs’ Association, did nothing (he let the vocal bad apples do all the work to ensure firearm rights are infringed).
Another article with no action plan or info on primary challengers. Knowledge is useless without intelligent action. Had earlier articles urged lobbying & provided contact info, this might’ve passed. 2A writers need to take responsibility for the bully pulpit – unless the whole point is to provide a vehicle for chatroom commandos to DO NOTHING but publicly self–stroke 24-7-365 while we lose our rights & country.