Nebraska instructor thinks many will take gun safety course even if it’s not required

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – If the governor signs LB 77 into law, Nebraska will join the 26 other states that allow permitless concealed carry.

A gun safety course would no longer be required for concealed carriers, but one trainer expects that many people will still take it.

“Most people really appreciate having a little education,” said Justin Grusing, the owner of Nebraska Shooters. “You have the right to bear arms, but you have a responsibility to train.”

This is where things stand right now in Nebraska.

To buy a firearm, you must go through a background check and, if you want a handgun, get a purchasing permit.

Anyone who legally owns a gun can openly carry in the state.

But if you want to carry your weapon and conceal it, you have to get another permit.

“There’s a significant number of people who firmly believe that if they’re going to carry a gun, they would like to have someone not only give them some formal training on the use of the handgun but also review the statues for them,” Grusing said. “And most people appreciate having someone read them and really explain what the intent is.”

To get a concealed handgun permit, you have to get another, more in-depth background check and take a full-day training course, which is what Grusing teaches.

The class covers gun safety, shooting fundamentals, conflict resolution, gun laws and more.

After the course, you have to pass the state patrol qualification.

The whole process would cost around $100.

But the training and advanced background check would be eliminated under LB 77.

You would still have to get the initial background check and handgun purchasing permit for $5.

Other than that, you’d be free to carry your firearm as you wish.

“You could go down to a gun shop and you could buy a handgun and walk out with it, and you could actually conceal it and carry it,” Grusing said.

Gov. Jim Pillen is expected to sign the bill into law next week, and it would take effect in September.

Grusing doesn’t expect that many people will skip the training if they decide to conceal-carry.

He said most of his trainees want to learn and be confident when they have a firearm on them.

“That’s the nice thing about America, is that we’re free to make personal choices,” Grusing said. “So hopefully people will assess their own abilities and do the right thing.”