Training, Conceal permit has advantages, Cheyenne County Sheriff says 

SIDNEY -- Nebraska's LB77 is due to go into effect September 2. LB77, referred to as the "Constitutional Carry" bill, allows a person 21 years of age or older to carry a concealed firearm.

Cheyenne County Adam Frerichs said conceal carry still has the same responsibilities as before the new legislative bill. 

"Regs that were in place for Conceal Carry for the permit, are still in effect for the Conceal Carry. So, like, pretty much whatever was covered under the Conceal Carry Permit is still covered under Conceal Carry now which means that folks are going to have to educate themselves before they start carrying Conceal," Frerichs said.

Frerichs said the change in the law does not change how his department conducts daily business. He said when a deputy makes an official contact with a person, the deputy assumes the contact is armed. 

"Probably the biggest thing I would put out there to anybody whose thinking about carrying concealed, under this new law, you're still required when contacted by law enforcement to give the exclamation 'I am carrying concealed.' You have to give law enforcement that notification, and that part of it still stands," he said.

Frerichs said the law no longer makes it a crime to carry concealed, that Nebraska is a Second Amendment state. He said requirements of the permit are important even though the permit itself will not be a requirement.

"You still have to follow all the rules and regs that came with the permit. And the other thing people need to understand, too, is, it's still important to get the Conceal Carry permit because we have a lot of states that are reciprocal as far as Constitutional Conceal Carry, so our Conceal Carry permits are still good in those states, so there's still a valid reason to keep on getting the Conceal Carry permit," he said. 

In March 2023, Sen. Tom Brewer introduced a bill that removes the permit requirement to conceal carry a firearm. 

Prior to the bill, a Nebraska resident would have to pass a background check, pay a $100 permit fee and complete a gun safety course to obtain a concealed carry permit, according to the August 30 "Unicameral Update." 

Sen. Brewer's bill removes the requirements. The bill also prohibits cities, counties and villages from regulating ownership, possession or transportation of a concealed firearm. Brewer said the bill would allow law-abiding citizens to constitutionally carry without a required permit.