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Nebraska has a shall-issue policy for concealed carry permit permits, and the State Patrol Department is in charge of this.

Also, without a Nebraska CCW permit or a purchase permit issued by the local county office, you cannot buy a firearm.

You can conceal carry in the state with a resident permit, or a permit from other states that have reciprocity with Nebraska.

Other things you should know before you conceal carry in the state are the CCW permit requirements, location restrictions, how to apply for a permit, etc.

Nebraska Gun Laws

To conceal carry in Nebraska, you need Concealed Handgun Permit, CHP, that serves as the state’s CCW permit.

The state issues residents and non-residents permits. However, the non-resident permit is only for members of the military posted to the state and their spouse.

You must be at least twenty-one years old before you can make a Nebraska concealed carry permit application.

You must also complete an approved firearm training.

Municipalities and Counties in the state are permitted to adopt several gun laws.

For example, in Lincoln City, you cannot possess a firearm for ten years if convicted of crimes that have to do with violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

Nebraska CCW Reciprocity

Nebraska has reciprocity with states that enact the same or more significant gun laws. If you are a resident of any of these states, Nebraska will honor your CCW permit.

Other aspects of Nebraska CCW permit include the following:

  • States that Nebraska will honor their CCW permits: Nebraska will accept a CCW permit from these states because they have gun laws that are relatable. However, Nebraska might choose to attach more requirements to the CCW permits from states that do not measure up to some of their gun laws standard. There are thirty-eight of them.
  • States that will accept a CCW permit from Nebraska: These states will honor Nebraska CCW permit. But you must conceal carry according to gun laws of the state. There are sixteen of them.
  • States that have restricted reciprocity with Nebraska: Nebraska issues both residents and non-residents permit. But these states will only accept a CCW permit from Nebraska that is tagged as residents only. Hence you cannot conceal carry with a non-resident permit in these states. There are three of them.
  • States that have permitless CCW permit: These states have a permitless policy. You are allowed to conceal carry without an issued license, as long as you meet the required age. However, other restrictions might apply depending on state gun laws.

You must be familiar with the gun laws of states that you want to visit. This will keep you safe from concealed carry charges.

Nebraska CCW Location Restriction

Nebraska gun laws define some places as off-limit, and you cannot conceal carry in these places even with a CCW permit.

Some of these places have signage that prohibits the possession of a firearm while others have places where you can keep your guns until you finish with your business in the building.

Places Where You Cannot Conceal Carry In Nebraska

  • You cannot conceal carry in a local law enforcement agency, and this includes the police station and sheriff’s office.
  • You cannot conceal carry within the premises of prison or any facility that is used for the detention of criminals.
  • You cannot conceal carry in a courtroom or during a court proceeding.
  • You cannot conceal carry in an election polling unit.
  • You cannot conceal carry in schools, colleges, and technical institutions.
  • You cannot conceal carry during meetings organized by municipalities, counties or other political subdivisions.
  • You cannot conceal carry in meetings organized by the legislative committee.
  • You cannot conceal carry in a bank or any other financial institution.
  • You cannot conceal carry during a professional, non-professional or amateur sporting event.
  • You cannot conceal carry in places of worship.
  • You cannot conceal carry in a hospital, a health center, or an emergency room.
  • You cannot conceal carry during a political rally or any other similar event.
  • You cannot conceal carry in a venture that has a license from the Nebraska Liquor Control Act and gets more than half of its income from the purchase of alcohol.
  • You cannot conceal carry in private buildings, properties, or enterprises that have a post or signage prohibiting the possession of alcohol within the premises.
  • You cannot conceal carry in an Air force base except you are a member of the United States Armed Forces with a conceal carry permit.
  • You cannot conceal carry in Nebraska forest reserved areas.
  • You cannot conceal carry in places that are restricted by federal laws.

Places Where You Can Conceal Carry In Nebraska

You are not restricted by gun laws of the state to conceal carry in the following places.

  • Restaurants and bars ventures: You can only conceal carry in the restaurant area if you are not under the influence of alcohol, and there is no restriction from those in charge of the places. You cannot conceal carry in bars.
  • Private cars: You can conceal carry in your private vehicle if you have a Nebraska CCW permit with you.
  • Roadsides: You can conceal carry along roadsides and in rest areas.
  • State parks and forests: You can conceal carry in state parks and forests except if there is a post that prohibits this.

Conceal Carry For Law Enforcement Agencies In Nebraska

The Federal Law Enforcement Officer Safety Act allows active, out of service and retired officers in the United States to conceal carry in any jurisdiction without limitation from state and municipality laws.

This means that officers of the law who have passed the LEOSA program are allowed to conceal carry without any location restrictions in America.

In Nebraska, the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center oversees the qualification of retired officers in the state.

After fixing an appointment with an NLETC training instructor, a retired officer will undergo the course under supervision.

Only those you pass this training course will be allowed to conceal carry in Nebraska.

Buying And Selling Of CCW In Nebraska.

There are a lot of things you need to know before buying, selling, transferring, and transportation of firearms within the state.

There are also some requirements stated by the laws of the state that you must meet.

Purchasing Permit For CCW In Nebraska

A purchasing permit is required before you buy a firearm in Nebraska.

Also, some counties have limitations for issuing a purchase permit. 

An example is Lancaster county where you must be a resident of the county before applying for a CCW permit there.

If you have a Nebraska CCW permit, then you may not have to apply for a purchase permit before buying a firearm in the state.

Background Check For Purchasing Firearms In Nebraska

A background check is necessary before completing the sale of a firearm in Nebraska.

You need either a CCW permit or a purchase permit, and before you can get the permit, you must have undergone a background check.

However, you do not need a background check to transfer firearms within your family, either nuclear or extended, as long as the transferor is a holder of any of the permits.

Waiting Period For CCW Permit In Nebraska

There is no required waiting period to complete the sales of firearms in Nebraska.

Handgun Registration

Unlike states that keep a record of handgun registration, or others that require reporting the sales of firearms within the state, Nebraska does not need any of this to complete handgun sales.

Minimum Age Requirement For Firearm Purchase In Nebraska

You must be at least eighteen years old before buying, selling, or transporting a firearm in Nebraska.

But this age limit does not apply to the loan of a firearm for training under a certified instructor, parents, or guardians.

Possession Of Firearms On Private Properties

You do not require a permit to use a firearm in your home of residence for self-defense and protection of properties and family members.

Process To Obtain Purchase Permits In Nebraska

Before you can buy, sell, rent, or receive a firearm in Nebraska, you must have a purchase permit.

This is regardless of if you are buying from a private seller or someone that has a federal license.

You do not need a purchasing permit in the following circumstances.

  • A transfer within family members.
  • If the purchaser is a licensed dealer
  • If the purchaser is doing it for a law enforcement agency.
  • If the purchaser already has a Nebraska CCW permit.
  • If the transfer is temporary and the gun is not leaving the premises of the owner or a shooting range.

You can only apply for a purchase permit through the officer of your local Sheriff, and the license is valid for three years.

Within this period, you can use the purchase permit to buy various firearms. The processing period for a purchase permit is three days.

The documents you need to apply for Nebraska purchase permits include the following:

  • A state-issued driver’s license or identification card.
  • The required application fee.

Note that you must be at least twenty-one years old before you can apply for a purchase permit in the state.

Castle Doctrine In Nebraska

Nebraska has a castle doctrine law with no duty to retreat policy.

This law justifies the use of a deadly force as long as it is necessary for self-defense against death, bodily harm, and other felony cases like kidnap, rape, and armed robbery.

However, to justify castle doctrine in Nebraska, you must not be the provoker of an attack, and such an attack must take place in your personal space.

Personal space can be your home of residence or your business place, as long as you are obliged to protect such a place.

If you are under an attack outside your home, in a vehicle or outbuildings, you should retreat before protecting yourself, your possession, or a member of your family.

Nebraska CCW Permit Requirements

You must meet all Nebraska concealed carry permit requirements before you apply for the CCW permit.

The requirements include the following:

  • You must be at least twenty-one years old.
  • You just have lived in Nebraska for at least six months, or if you are a new resident, you must have a CCW permit from a state that has reciprocity with Nebraska.  Military members posted to the state can also get permits.
  • You must pass a Nebraska concealed carry permit course. This could also be a Nebraska concealed carry permit online course.
  • You must not have sight issues. Complete eyes test before Nebraska concealed carry permit application.
  • You must not be on a work release, under probation, parole, or house arrest.
  • You must not be a convict to any felony crime.
  • You must not be guilty of any charge in which you were convicted for misdemeanor or violence, ten years before applying for a CCW permit.
  • You must not be a mentally impaired person or have a diagnosis that adjuncts you as mentally ill, ten years before CCW permit application, regardless of if you have healed or not.
  • You must not be a convict to the violation of any form of firearm law or use of an illicit substance ten years before you apply for a permit.
  • You must meet all federal requirements for issuing a CCW permit.

How To Apply For CCW Permit In Nebraska

If you meet all state requirements, the next step is to apply for a CCW permit.

The application process includes the following:

Provide Driver’s License Or Vision Test

If you have a driver’s license, that means that at some point, you have passed a vision test, so you will not need to retake one.

If you do not have a driver’s license, download the form that contains a vision statement on the Nebraska patrol website. 

Then keep an appointment with your optometrist to take the test.

This test is an essential requirement for Nebraska CCW permits.  

Complete A Firearm Training Course

Enroll for a Nebraska concealed carry permit class that is organized by a state-certified instructor.

Complete Application Form

You can either download the application form from the state patrol website or visit the office to pick it up.

Make sure you have it notarized before submission.

Submit All Necessary Documents

Take your completed, notarized application with you to the state patrol headquarter. Other documents you will provide include the following:

  • Certificate from a training course
  • A driver’s license or proof of vision with a completed vision statement.
  • Proof that you are a citizen of America. This could be a birth certificate or passport.
  • State identity proof. This could be a driver’s license of Nebraska issued ID card.
  • After this, provide your fingerprint, photograph, and append signature.

Receive Your Notification Mail

You will get a mail to notify you of your application approval.

Nebraska Firearms Requirements

You must complete a firearm course three years before applying for a Nebraska CCW permit.

The course curriculum must cover the following:

  • How to handle firearms safely.
  • Basics of shooting a firearm.
  • How to handle ammunition.
  • Demonstration of firearm competency according to minimum safety.
  • Federal, state, and local laws that govern the sales, purchase, transfer, and transportation of firearms.
  • Federal, state, and local laws that govern the possession of firearms for self-defense, castle doctrine homicide, and other assault degrees.
  • Training on how to avoid and be in control of a violent attack.
  • How to safely store firearms to avoid handling from children that could lead to an accidental discharge.

Nebraska Concealed Carry FAQs.

Here are some frequently asked questions about CCW permits in Nebraska.

How Long Is Nebraska CCW Permit Valid?

CCW permits are valid for five years in Nebraska.

How Much Is Nebraska CCW Permit Application?

Initial permits cost one hundred dollars, while renewal applications cost fifty dollars.

How Long Will It Take To Complete My Nebraska Concealed Carry Permit Application?

The processing time for the CCW permit in Nebraska is five days.

Can I Apply For Non-Resident CCW Permit In Nebraska?

CCW permits are only issued to residents of the state, members of the military posted to Nebraska, and their spouses.

Additional Resources

Nebraska Gun Laws
Nebraska Open Carry Laws
Nebraska Gun Permit Laws

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