Advocate groups, students call on Nebraska senators for action on gun control

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — A group of parents, students and teachers joined advocate groups Thursday at the State Capitol to call on senators to take action on gun control in Nebraska.

Members of Nebraskans Against Gun Violence and the Nebraska chapter of Moms Demand Action spoke at the rally, which was held in the capitol’s rotunda. 

This comes on the five-year anniversary of the walkouts, which followed the shooting at Parkland school shooting in Florida.

Organizers said the gun violence problem has only gotten worse for young people in schools. 

“Gun violence is the number one cause of death in U.S. children,” Sen. Jane Raybould of Lincoln said. 

Nebraska teachers and students also spoke on how it is affecting people in our state. 

“Kids my age shouldn’t have to be concerned about like, you know, their lives and about like where to hide,” Leah Nelson said.

The organizations also spoke against some bills proposed in the legislature, including LB 77, which is also known as the concealed carry bill.

But those supporting the bill said it’s not about gun access but about where people can carry them. 

“It’s not increasing the number of guns that are going to be on the streets just carried by anybody and everybody,” said Allie French with Nebraskans Against Government Overreach. “Every single person still has to go through that background check.” 

Supporters of LB 77 say these types of bills benefit responsible gun owners. They also say that no matter what the laws say, criminals will still break them.