Pro-gun, antigay conservative state lawmakers in Nebraska found themselves in a rather precarious position this week.
The good ol’ boys in the cornhusker state were discussing the issue of granting military spouses the right to carry concealed firearms.
The current law allows nonresident military members to bypass a rule that requires a person live in Nebraska for 180 days before applying for a concealed gun permit. A bill proposing to extend that same exemption to military spouses came up for debate. And that’s where things got tricky.
While debating the issue, Republican Sen. Paul Schumacher asked colleagues how the bill would impact same-sex spouses looking to obtain gun permits given Nebraska’s constitutional ban on gay marriage, and his solution was surprisingly progressive given his party’s stance on marriage equality.
“Is not the Second Amendment sex blind? Color blind?” Schumacher asked. “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 amendment that would extend the gun privilege to anyone, gay or straight, receiving the federal benefits of a military spouse.
That amendment passed by a vote of 38-0.
Of course, not everyone was pleased about it.
In an act of symbolic assholery, Republican Sen. John Murante refused to vote for or against the bill, claiming the amendment could be used to challenge Nebraska’s ban on same-sex marriage, which would be the end of the world.
“I think we just recognized gay marriage,” he grumbled mere moments after the amendment passed. “We are now using the federal government’s standard for who receives marriage benefits!”
God forbid.
The state’s ban on gay marriage is currently being challenged in a lawsuit pending in U.S. District Court. The U.S. Supreme Court is also expected to issue a ruling later this year that will determine whether or not states have the right to discriminate against gay people by refusing to recognize same-sex marriages.
h/t: Omaha.com
Related stories:
POLL: Majority Of Nebraska Supports Recognition Of Same-Sex Relationships
Nebraska Bill Would Block LGBT Protections In Omaha Anti-Discrimination Law
Nebraska Won’t Let Lesbians Divorce, But Will Determine Who Gets Custody Of Their Child
gjg64
I hate to say it, but I think Sen. Murante is correct…..they just recognized marriage equality, and all for the sake of theoretical gun ownership. Show’s where their priorities really are.
jwtraveler
I don’t see this as a victory for gay rights or gay marriage at all. It’s just further evidence that the right wing’s pathological obsession with gun ownership trumps every other consideration in their one-issue view of Constitutional rights. If they’re willing to sacrifice the lives of hundreds or thousands of children each year to maintain gun rights, why wouldn’t they compromise on anti-gay discrimination?
dommyluc
I believe the technical term for this kind of RW nutjob ammosexual clusterfuck is “dumbassery”.
Cam
Wow, Gun love is stronger than their hatred or bigotry, whoda thunk it?
shadrak153
Ye-e-e-e-e-e-e-ha!