GovBeat: Nebraska state senators think gay love should not get in the way of gun rights

In Nebraska, where same-sexmarriage has been illegal since 2000, legislators did something surprisingly pro-gay Tuesday.

Lawmakers were voting on a bill that would make it easier for military spouses to get concealed-carry permits. But the language, as introduced, was vague. After all, who counts as a spouse under Nebraska law? The federal government recognizes gay marriages, but Nebraska doesnt.

This seemed to rankle state Sen. Paul Schumacher (R), who argued that we should not allow gay love to get in the way of ones gun rights.

Joe Duggan, a reporter with the Omaha World-Herald, has the killer quote from the hearing:

Is not the Second Amendment sex blind? Color blind? Schumacher said. What great evil would come from saying a partner of somebody in the military is entitled to exercise their Second Amendment rights to carry a concealed weapon in this state?

Schumacher proposed an amendmentthat would extend the bills privileges to gay spouses,speeding up the process ofobtaining aconcealed carry permit.

Why would we want to limit that right according to sexual orientation? he said, according toanother account of the hearing.

The amendment passed 38to 0, and the bill passed the first round of voting 37 to 4.

Duggan reports that one of the abstainers, state Sen. John Murante, pointed out that this seemedpretty pro-gay:

I think we just recognized gay marriage, he said moments after the vote. We are now using the federal governments standard for who receives marriage benefits.

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GovBeat: Nebraska state senators think gay love should not get in the way of gun rights