Hundreds of gun owners packed a legislative hearing at the state capitol in Lincoln on Friday, determined to speak out against a gun control measure that would impose a waiting period on gun sales, as well as require background checks to be performed on all firearms transfers at gun shows.
LB816 isn’t a gun control bill at all, according to the bill’s sponsor, but the vast majority of those who showed up for a hearing on the bill strongly disagree. “I think the message is pretty clear that shall not be infringed is non-negotiable,” says bill opposer Ian Kimmen.
Senator John McCollister says his bill isn’t gun control but a suicide prevention bill. “The number one thing we can do is reduce easy access to firearms,” says Nebraskans Against Violence demonstrator Emily Killham.
The current version of the bill requires anybody buying a handgun to wait at least 48 hours, and up to five days when getting a permit from the sheriff’s office. “This short delay would give a person, intent on harm to himself or others, a window of time to reflect on the impulse to purchase a handgun and hopefully change their mind,” says McCollister.