Svoboda looks at CCW changes
BY JoANNE YOUNG / Lincoln Journal Star

Without a ban on carrying concealed weapons, City Councilman Ken Svoboda says he is hoping to expand the list of people who can’t hide their weapons.

The state law outlines some of those who cannot get permits to carry a concealed weapon. Those are people convicted of a felony or violent crime, found in the previous 10 years to be a mentally ill or dangerous person, or judged mentally incompetent.

Also, they can have no violations relating to firearms, unlawful use of a weapon or to controlled substances in the previous 10 years.

But Svoboda would add to the list offenses of stalking, violating a protection order, impersonating a peace officer, indecent exposure, and some offenses of driving under the influence.

Svoboda said he had been crafting such an ordinance to introduce in case the concealed weapons ban failed. It would be important, he said, to further protect law enforcement officers and Lincoln residents.

Mayor Coleen Seng has called a press conference for Wednesday afternoon to talk about her ideas on the issue.Svoboda said he would not be willing to reconsider a ban on carrying concealed weapons in the city. The Council, in a surprise move Monday, voted 5-2 to kill the proposal. That removed the ability of the public and city officials opposed or in favor of the state law to be heard on the proposed city ordinance.

Any council member who voted in favor of killing the proposal could ask for reconsideration. Those members are Svoboda, Patte Newman, Jon Camp, Robin Eschliman and Annette McRoy.