Judge blocks Omaha's ban on guns in public places while lawsuit challenging it moves forward

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Judge blocks Omaha’s ban on guns in public places while lawsuit challenging it moves forward

BY JOSH FUNK
Updated 6:20 PM EST, February 9, 2024

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska’s largest city won’t be able to enforce its ban on guns on all public property, including parks and sidewalks, while a lawsuit challenging that restriction moves forward.

Douglas County District Judge LeAnne Srb issued a preliminary injunction Friday blocking that ban, but she refused to put Omaha’s restrictions on “ghost guns” and bump stocks on hold.

The Liberty Justice Center filed the lawsuit on behalf of the Nebraska Firearms Owners Association arguing that the city restrictions violate a new state law passed last year that allows people to carry concealed guns across the state without a permit and without the need to complete a gun safety course. A similar lawsuit challenging gun restrictions in Lincoln remains pending.

“We are thrilled with the court’s decision to grant this injunction and uphold Nebraskans’ rights against executive overreach,” said Jacob Huebert, president of the Liberty Justice Center. “Under Nebraska law, local governments do not have the authority to regulate firearms — the right to bear arms is protected across the state.”

-snip-

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-omaha-gun-rights-lawsuit-d07304c8c807db0a0954ea35200cbd03

[elleng]

1. 'rights against executive overreach'

[grumpyduck]

2. Well, I guess I won't be going to Omaha anytime soon.

[TexasDem69]

4. Or Vermont, or Florida

Or Colorado, or Michigan. This is the law almost everywhere you could go in the U.S.

[TexasDem69]

3. Seems like a reasonable ruling

And the law is stupid. It wouldn’t prevent a single gun-related crime, so why fight this fight?

[The Mouth]

6. Because gunz are bad and scary

The go off by themselves all the time and they make sensitive people feel uneasy.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

5. It seems pretty clear that the city overstepped.

Many states have preemption laws governing guns. Towns and cities in that state cannot make laws that conflict with state law. Other states allow for local authorities to determine their own restrictions.

Nothing precludes a state from changing its laws to allow for local restrictions.