Nebraska Senator Tables Gun Bill That Recognized Gay Couples

Nebraska Senator Dave Bloomfield was deep in study as more bills were introduced during the second day of the special session in the State Capitol on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2011. (AP Photo/Lincoln Journal Star, Robert Becker)
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The Nebraska state Senate this week tabled a gun permit bill that would have recognized military members’ same-sex spouses despite the state’s ban on gay marriage.

While debating a bill that would have made it easier for out-of-state military spouses to acquire conceal carry permits last week, state senators approved an amendment that would allow any military spouse recognized by the federal government to apply for a permit.

However Sen. Dave Bloomfield (R), the gun bill’s sponsor, asked that the legislation be put on hold until the Supreme Court address same sex marriage.

“How we got the whole issue of gay marriage combined with concealed carry is beyond me,” Bloomfield said on Monday, according to the Omaha World-Herald News Service.

Bloomfield said last week that he didn’t think the amendment would undermine the state’s ban on gay marriage, but according to the World-Herald some state lawmakers questioned whether the amendment would amount to recognition of gay marriage.

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