The National Rifle Association praised Nebraska lawmakers for limiting what information about gun owners was accessible under the state’s public-records statutes.
Sen. Bruce Bostelman of Brainard introduced a measure (LB902) exempting information obtained by government agencies “regarding firearm registration, possession, sale, or use that is obtained for purposes of an application permitted” from the Nebraska Public Records Act.
The bill passed on final reading 47-0 and was signed by Gov. Pete Ricketts on Tuesday. It will go into effect in 90 days.
“Just signed LB 902 into law to help protect gun rights in Nebraska! @NRA #2A” Ricketts tweeted Tuesday morning along with a picture of himself holding the signed bill.
The NRA said Bostelman’s bill prevented “unscrupulous media outlets and others access to related firearms records.”
“This new law gives Nebraska’s law-abiding gun owners peace of mind knowing that gun control extremists won’t have access to their personal information,” said Chris Cox, executive director of the NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action.
In a statement, Cox referred to the publishing of the names and addresses of all residents in two New York counties who held gun permits by the Journal News in suburban New York City.
“This is the kind of sleaze the NRA is seeking to prevent in Nebraska,” Cox said.
The NRA noted the law potentially protected the personal information of current and former law enforcement, judges, or citizens granted protection orders against others.
Bostelman’s bill, which he designated his priority for this 60-day session, would not prevent law enforcement from accessing that information upon request.
During a committee hearing and floor debate, Bostelman and other proponents said the law would also protect gun owners from being targeted for fraud, harassment or abuse, and would keep victims of domestic abuse from having their personal information published.
