Misdemeanor convictions to prevent gun possession in Lincoln
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - A crime package approved by the City Council would keep people convicted of an array of misdemeanors from possessing firearms.
The ordinance was given unanimous backing Monday and makes it illegal for people to possess firearms within city limits if they have been convicted during the previous 10 years of some 20 misdemeanor offenses.
Previously, only felony convictions could keep someone from legally having a gun within city limits.
Allen Curtis, head of the Nebraska Crime Commission, said he was unaware of other Nebraska cities implementing gun-control ordinances as restrictive as Lincoln's.
Curtis said he would not, however, object to seeing more cities tighten gun possession laws.
"Anytime you have people who clearly have trouble making decisions in their life, it's probably a good idea to implement laws that keep them from making bad decisions with guns," Curtis said.
Officials in Lincoln said conviction for the misdemeanors, which range from obstructing government operations to using explosives without a permit, indicates violent tendencies.
Other misdemeanor convictions included on the list are resisting arrest, obstructing a peace officer, and interfering with an officer making an arrest.
"I don't think we should be soft on crime," Councilman Ken Svoboda said.
The ordinance also includes a restriction against keeping a firearm in a motor vehicle for more than 24 hours.
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