Hey, everybody… Hopefully this reaches everyone doing well in health and spirit. So, it’s all come down to an override vote on Monday (May 8th). As usual, I’d like to thank everyone for all their efforts great and small to help get LB75 on the razor’s edge of victory.

We’re so close but yet we must press forward through this last part of the challenge. Let’s hang tough and remain persistent we just need to convince a few senators to vote our way.
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LB478 was passed by the Nebraska Legislature on May 3rd during final reading. The vote was 46 yes, 0 no, 1 present – not voting, 2 excused – not voting and 0 absent. So, why does LB478 deserve attention?

LB478 is a bill sponsored by Senators Mike Groene (Dist. 42) and John Lowe (Dist. 37) it grants the right to ex-felons to possess and use archery equipment and knives for recreational purposes. This is a good thing. LB478 deserves attention for one reason i.e., consistency or the lack of it.

Through its 3 rounds of voting LB478 didn’t receive 1 no vote from any of the 49 senators. There were some senators that were present during voting and didn’t vote. Contrast this against the no votes LB75 received from the senators voting yes to allow ex-felons the right to possess and use a crossbow and knives for recreational purposes. Where’s the consistency?

It seems that senators voting yes for LB478 but voting no for LB75 are literally more comfortable with ex-felons possessing weapons and fearful of ex-felons voting upon discharge. If this were an issue of public safety ex-felons voting upon discharge appears to be more of a public safety concern than the possession and use of weapons by the same demographic.

There’s one other thing to note about LB478, is was passed with an emergency clause (“Since an emergency exists, this act takes effect when passed and approved according to law.”). Normally a bill becomes law 90 days after being signed by the governor. A bill passed with an emergency clause becomes effective immediately after being signed by the governor.

What emergency exists that requires putting weapons in the hands of ex-felons so quickly that wouldn’t necessitate putting a vote in the hands of ex-felons with the same immediacy? Where’s the consistency?

***CALL TO ACTION***

   The override vote of the governor’s veto to LB75 will be on Monday, May 8th. There’s still time to hopefully get the needed votes for an override.

I suggest we email, phone call and visit those senators that voted yes for LB478 (http://www.nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_votes.php…) but voted no for LB75 or have been present and didn’t vote or were excused from voting (http://www.nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_votes.php…).  Make sure to contact your senator, if he or she isn’t voting yes for LB75 try to persuade them to do so.

Your email, phone call or visit should be tailored to the senator’s last vote on LB75 (e.g., Senator you were present and not voting/voted no/excused not voting for LB75 but voted yes for LB478. I’m seeking your vote on Monday to override the governor’s veto because it would be consistent with your vote on LB478).

Senators voting no:

Sen. Joni Albrecht
District 17
Room #2010
P.O. Box 94604
Lincoln, NE 68509
Phone: (402) 471-2716
Email: jalbrecht@leg.ne.gov

Sen. Tom Brewer
District 43
Room #1202
P.O. Box 94604
Lincoln, NE 68509
Phone: (402) 471-2628
Email: tbrewer@leg.ne.gov

Sen. Robert Clements
District 2
Room #1523
P.O. Box 94604
Lincoln, NE 68509
Phone: (402) 471-2613
Email: rclements@leg.ne.gov

Sen. Suzanne Geist
District 25
Room #1115
P.O. Box 94604
Lincoln, NE 68509
Phone: (402) 471-2731
Email: sgeist@leg.ne.gov

Sen. Steve Halloran
District 33
Room #1306
P.O. Box 94604
Lincoln, NE 68509
Phone: (402) 471-2712
Email: shalloran@leg.ne.gov

Sen. Robert Hilkemann
District 4
Room #2028
P.O. Box 94604
Lincoln, NE 68509
Phone: (402) 471-2621
Email: rhilkemann@leg.ne.gov

Sen. Mike Hilgers
District 21
Room #1404
P.O. Box 94604
Lincoln, NE 68509
Phone: (402) 471-2673
Email: mhilgers@leg.ne.gov

Sen. Brett Lindstrom
District 18
Room #1401
P.O. Box 94604
Lincoln, NE 68509
Phone: (402) 471-2618
Email: blindstrom@leg.ne.gov

Sen. John Lowe
District 37
Room #1528
P.O. Box 94604
Lincoln, NE 68509
Phone: (402) 471-2726
Email: jlowe@leg.ne.gov

Sen. John Murante
District 49
Room #1423
P.O. Box 94604
Lincoln, NE 68509
Phone: (402) 471-2725
Email: jmurante@leg.ne.gov

Sen. Merv Riepe
District 12
Room #1402
P.O. Box 94604
Lincoln, NE 68509
Phone: (402) 471-2623
Email: mriepe@leg.ne.gov

Sen. Jim Scheer
District 19
Room #2103
P.O. Box 94604
Lincoln, NE 68509
Phone: (402) 471-2929
Email: jscheer@leg.ne.gov

Sen. John Kuehn
District 38
Room #2000
P.O. Box 94604
Lincoln, NE 68509
Phone: (402) 471-2732
Email: jkuehn@leg.ne.gov

Senators Present not voting:

Sen. Bruce Bostelman
District 23
Room #1118
P.O. Box 94604
Lincoln, NE 68509
Phone: (402) 471-2719
Email: bbostelman@leg.ne.gov

Sen. Lydia Brasch
District 16
Room #1022
P.O. Box 94604
Lincoln, NE 68509
Phone: (402) 471-2728
Email: lbrasch@leg.ne.gov

Sen. Tom Briese
District 41
Room #1120
P.O. Box 94604
Lincoln, NE 68509
Phone: (402) 471-2631
Email: tbriese@leg.ne.gov

Sen. Joni Craighead
District 6
Room #2107
P.O. Box 94604
Lincoln, NE 68509
Phone: (402) 471-2714
Email: jcraighead@leg.ne.gov

Sen. Dan Hughes
District 44
Room #1210
P.O. Box 94604
Lincoln, NE 68509
Phone: (402) 471-2805
Email: dhughes@leg.ne.gov

Sen. John Stinner
District 48
Room #1004
P.O. Box 94604
Lincoln, NE 68509
Phone: (402) 471-2802
Email: jstinner@leg.ne.gov

Sen. Dan Watermeier
District 1
Room #2108
P.O. Box 94604
Lincoln, NE 68509
Phone: (402) 471-2733
Email: dwatermeier@leg.ne.gov

Senators Excused not voting:

Sen. Curt Friesen
District 34
Room #1110
P.O. Box 94604
Lincoln, NE 68509
Phone: (402) 471-2630
Email: cfriesen@leg.ne.gov

Sen. Mike Groene
District 42
Room #1107
P.O. Box 94604
Lincoln, NE 68509
Phone: (402) 471-2729
Email: mgroene@leg.ne.gov