Straw vote opposes Christensen gun law proposal

Those attending the Chamber Legislature Con-ference call this morning gave an overwhelming 'No' vote to Sen. Mark Christ-ensen's bill that would limit the power of cities to regulate the carrying of concealed handguns as allowed by a new state law.

Christensen asked for a consensus among those present on LB695, that will be heard in committee this Friday. Nearly everyone voted against the bill, which Christensen found surprising.

"This is a reversal of what I've been hearing," he said but he did not say whether he would pull the bill.

Christensen defended LB695 and cited it was needed as inconsistencies exist the way the law is presently written. The concealed weapon law, in effect since January, allows each city or village to choose whether to allow concealed weapons. This makes it easy for an innocent person traveling across the state to be "legal" in one town and not in another, he said.

Exemptions in his bill would include hospitals, bars, banks and sporting events.

County Commissioner Leigh Hoyt questioned whether the bill was really needed.

"I don't understand why we need a law to regulate the laws we already have," he asked.

The concealed weapons law requires those seeking to carry a weapon to file paperwork with the State Patrol. These are responsible people who will be registering with the state, he said.

LB695 wouldn't change the ability to to get concealed weapons, Christensen said, but would make it consistent statewide. Although he does not carry a gun himself, he said he recognizes the importance of local control.

On other issues, Mike O'Dell asked how Gov. Heineman's proposed water resource cash fund compares with Christensen's own water bill, LB701.

Christensen said the governor's proposal was complimentary to his own but catered to the Platte rather than to the Republican River.

Gov. Heineman has proposed $2.7 million a year plus $300,000 from the Environmental Trust Fund to address the state's water issues.

The ongoing frigid weather brought a comment from Barb Ostrum, of Community Action Partnership of Mid Nebraska. She asked the senator to examine the cold weather rules concerning disconnecting service.

The public Utility Commission, along with utility companies, have varying interpretations of how and when service can be disconnected during cold weather, she said. She complimented Christensen's staff who were she said very helpful this week when several families in the area had their heat turned off.

Other topics briefly discussed include:

* LB83, that would allow state correctional inmates to be released earlier if they successfully complete the Work Ethic Camp program. WEC Superintendent Raleigh Haas asked Christensen to support the bill.

* LB305, that would require the sales and use taxes from leased motor vehicles, trailers, and semitrailers be credited to the Highway Trust Fund and Highway Allocation Fund. Currently, the sales and use taxes generated by leases is credited to the General Fund.

This has been moved to Select File. Christensen said he supports this bill, although it would create a $9.3 million loss from the General fund.

He remains cautious on another bill, LB 663, which would remove additional funds from the General Fund. If the General Fund comes up short, it would be hospitals and schools that would suffer as a result. he said.