Omaha City Council votes to ban ghost guns

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – The City of Omaha is banning untraceable ghost guns. Tuesday’s City Council vote was 4-3 along party lines.

Ghost guns are untraceable and unregistered firearms. They can be pieced together using different parts and shells from firearms, ordered online, or even created using 3D printers, with parts privately assembled into a cheap and deadly weapon.

While some states have bans, Nebraska doesn’t.

The council delayed a vote on an ordinance pertaining to bump stocks — gun accessories that allow for a multi-burst trigger; as well as a resolution banning handguns in public places like parks, following up on an executive order from Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert. That vote will take place in two weeks.

Omaha City Council President Pete Festersen has called the ordinances a common-sense approach to curbing gun violence. One of the four resolutions recommends that all gun owners complete basic firearms training and practice safe storage of firearms.

The resolutions were formed after Nebraska LB77, which allows anyone who can legally purchase a handgun in Nebraska to conceal it and carry it — a move that prompted chiefs of police in both Omaha and Lincoln to express concern.

Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer said only two ghost guns were recovered in 2019. So far this year, OPD has recovered 61. Of the 132 recovered between 2019 and 2023, he said 65 were recovered from juveniles or minors.

“In less than one hour, these self-made weapons become fully-functioning, untraceable firearms,” said Katie Townley with Moms Demand Action’s Nebraska chapter. “A person can buy the parts and assemble a ghost gun without even receiving a background check. As a result, they’re becoming a weapon of choice for violent criminals, gun traffickers, and others who are prohibited from purchasing firearms.”

Proponents say Congress and the courts aren’t taking enough action, so the City needs to step in; opponents say whatever happens now will be challenged in the courts.

“You start taking all these things away from people, law-abiding citizens to protect themselves, and you’re setting up with this ghost gun deal,” said Randy Bendorf. “It’s a null impact, look at the numbers. Let’s enforce the laws we’ve got.”

“Our members who currently own what you define as ghost guns, which are simply unserialized firearms, would never use those for ill intent, for any violent criminal act,” said Patricia Harrold with the Nebraska Firearm Owners Association. “We’re wondering why we’re vilifying the gun owner without vilifying the criminal.”

Earlier this month, 6 News spoke with Dick Clark, the author of LB77 who works for State Sen. Tom Brewer and has been pushing for these changes for years.

“We were hopeful that Omaha and Lincoln would recognize that once LB 77 was law, that included preemptions where there are certain powers cities no longer have, and that’s regulations of firearms and other weapons,” Clark said.

He also said Mayor Stothert’s exceptions, like banning concealed carry handguns from city parks, are too broad.

But the city attorney has said his team’s interpretation is that such ordinances are allowed as they would regulate gun accessories, not the guns themselves.

With the ghost gun ban passed, possessing those parts will become illegal in two weeks’ time.

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This is a developing story. Stay with 6 News for updates.

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