Council approves new ordinance, requiring guns to be properly secure in vehicles

The Lincoln City Council approved some big topics during Monday night’s meeting.

Lincoln gun owners are now required to properly secure guns in their vehicle. After hearing testimony from the public last week, changes have been made to the new gun ordinance.

“Any person who has a firearm can keep it in their vehicle as long as it is not observable from outside, you can’t see the weapon from outside the vehicle and the vehicle itself is secured, that means windows rolled up, doors all locked,” Lincoln City Council Member, Roy Christensen said.

The second big change is that it will not be a misdemeanor for a first offense. It will be an infraction for a first and second offense and a misdemeanor for a third offense.

The difference between an infraction and a misdemeanor is that an infraction does not go on your record and no jail time.

Christensen explains why these changes were made.

“The purpose of my legislation is to encourage people to be safe with their weapons and to secure them but not to punish people who might inadvertently run a foul of this but if you are looking at a third time offense then you are looking at it that person doesn’t care,” Christensen said.

The gun ordinance wasn’t the only thing approved Monday night. Funds for the Nebraska Innovation Campus Hotel Project Redevelopment got the okay. It’ll be located at 21st and Transformation Drive.

$31 million total is needed for the project and included in that amount, $7 million will be TIF funds.