Nebraska lawmakers advance bill prohibiting weapons in the Capitol

The Legislature narrowed the list of prohibited weapons in the Capitol building while advancing a bill on Tuesday that restricts the carrying of firearms inside the public building to only those with concealed carry permits.

Prohibited weapons will now include knives with blades longer than three inches and any firearm that is not carried by concealed carry permit holder. Senators approved a carveout for non-lethal weapons, including brass knuckles, pepper spray, tasers and stun guns.

The bill also funds metal detectors inside the entrances to the Capitol building, with a $921,000 price tag. Bill sponsor Sen. Ben Hansen said Nebraska is one of a handful of states that do not have metal detectors in their capitol buildings.

Hansen pointed out that concealed carry permits come with information about the gun owner while indicating to police that the owner possesses the gun lawfully. Many senators on both sides of the political spectrum supported the bill as amended, some adding in previous debates on the bill that the new rules will help keep the many school kids, advocates and members of the public who visit the building every day safe.

Hansen said the more narrow list of prohibited weapons was a final request from senators on the bill. It now must pass a final round of votes before adoption.

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