-LEGISLATURE
■ A bill would make carry
ing concealed weapons with
out unlawful intent legal.
By Gwen Tietgen
Staff writer
Strong opinions voiced in the judi
ciary committee Wednesday questioned
citizens’ rights to carry concealed
weapons.
LB 1133 would eliminate the
offense of carrying a concealed weapon
and make carrying a weapon with
I
unlawful intent an offense.
Sen. Kermit Brashear of Omaha
said the bill would give citizens the right
to conceal guns. They would be charged
with a class one misdemeanor only if
the gun were used for “unlawful intent.”
Supporters of the bill included sev
eral citizens from rural areas.
They were tired of legislators trying
to take away their constitutional right to
keep and bear arms.
Those opposing the bill said it
would endanger law enforcement offi
cers and make it impossible to convict
people carrying guns.
The Rev. Jay Schmidt, representing
Nebraskans for Peace, said allowing
concealed weapons endangers public
safety and die unarmed citizen.
Janet Bonet of Omaha testified
against the bill.
“If this bill passed there is going to
be a lot of smiling criminals out there,”
she said.
“If a citizen is carrying a gun and
hiding it, what are they really trying to
hide? When someone carrying a gun is
embarrassed to wear it visibly, they have
a problem.”
The committee indefinitely post
poned the bill after the hearing
Wednesday.
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Dill would require data
on research using humans
By Jill Zeman
Staff wri ter
Legislators were among many
people discussing research using
aborted fetal tissue Wednesday, but
they weren’t debating its morality.
LB 1417, introduced Jan. 20 by
Sen. Jim Jensen of Omaha, would
require medical schools in Nebraska
that conduct research using human
subjects to disclose information to the
legislative Health and Human
Services Committee.
The committee discussed the issue
Wednesday but has not yet voted on
whether to advance it to the floor.
Jensen, the committee chairman,
said he introduced the bill because of
concern about research using aborted
fetal tissue conducted at the University
of Nebraska Medical Center.
“Although this bill is in response to
the fetal research, it does not confine
itself to just that type of research,” he
said.
Jensen emphasized that any form
of research using humans would need
to be reported under the proposed bill.
“I believe the committee, the
Legislature and the people of the state
should be aware and updated about the
kinds of research being performed,” he
said.
Jensen said UNMC has been
cooperative in providing information
to help him draft the bill.
He said the bill doesn’t require the
committee to take any action; the
members must only be informed.
William Bemdt, vice chancellor of
academic affairs at UNMC, said no
one intended to hide the aborted fetal
tissue research from the public
UNMC had offered public presen
tations and scientific reports about the
research since its inception, he said.
But Bemdt said some information
from research using human subjects
needs to remain confidential.
Bemdt also said he has no problem
reporting the details on the nature of
the research to the committee.
Julie Schmit-Albin, Nebraska
Right to Life executive director, said
she opposed the aborted fetal cell
research, but feels the bill is a step in
the right direction.
“Anything that sheds light on what
goes on behind closed doors is appre
ciated,” she said.
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