Nebraska Gun Laws Purchasing firearms in the state of Nebraska does not require a
permit. As long as shotguns, handguns, and rifles are purchased from a
licensed dealer, no permit is necessary. The state of Nebraska defines
a handgun as any firearm that has a sixteen-inch barrel or less or any
firearm that was originally designed to be fired while being held in
one hand. Rifles, handguns, and shotguns do not need to be registered
to the Nebraska law enforcement.
Owners also do not need to be licensed to possess a shotgun, handgun,
or rifle. No permit is needed to carry a rifle or a shotgun, as stated
through Nebraska law. The law does state that a permit is necessary to
carry a handgun, which became effective as of the first of January
2007. This kind of permit is called a concealed weapons permit and can
be acquired through completion of the proper safety courses, necessary
background checks, and eligibility.
Certificate for Possessing a Firearm To receive, sell, or purchase a handgun requires a certificate.
Certain circumstances allow no certificate to be needed. These include
the purchase or sale of an antique handgun, a firearms dealer through
federal licensing acquires the gun, a law enforcement agency makes the
transfer or purchase, or the transfer is temporary.
When a transfer is for temporary purposes, the individual acquiring the
gun must be visible by the dealer at all times, be on the shooting
facility premises, or be a member of the gun holder's family--sibling,
spouse, parent, uncle, aunt, child, grandparent, nephew, or niece.
Certificate applications are to be processed through the police chief
or the sheriff in the county of residence. During this process a
background check will be made after two days of filing, which will cost
five dollars. The police chief or the sheriff will then determine if
the certificate is to be granted or denied. If a certificate is denied,
the reason for the denial will be presented to the individual in
written form. A certificate can only be acquired by those who are
twenty-one years of age or older and is only valid by the state of
Nebraska for a three-year time period.
If a certificate has been revoked or denied, an appeal can be issued
within ten days to the county court of residency. The appeal will need
to contain the reasons why the certificated was denied or revoked and
will need to include a ten-dollar filing fee. Within thirty days a
decisions will be issued by the court.
Nebraska Firearms Dealers Nebraska law states that licensed dealers are required to check
certifications, certification numbers, and picture identification
before a purchase or transfer can be made. This also includes
manufacturers and importers and excludes the checking of other dealers,
manufacturers, collectors, or importers.
Possession Eligibility Only certain individuals under law are eligible to possess
firearms. These excludes those under the age of eighteen, felony
convictions using firearms, misdemeanors using firearms, the chemically
dependent, alcoholics, and the mentally unstable. Privileges can be
reestablished after certain periods of time, in most cases.