Nebraska Gun Laws: How Do State Laws Apply on Native American Reservations?

With changes coming to many regulations regarding gun laws across the country, staying informed on the changes is a smart thing to do. Nebraska gun laws are up for debate in the state legislature as it commences its 2015 session, and that will inevitably lead to questions about how Nebraska gun laws apply to Native American reservations.

Across America, most Native American reservations reserve sovereignty and that manifests itself greatly when it comes to handling firearms on Native American lands.

For the most part, Nebraska state gun laws have no effect on tribal lands. The Supreme Court has declared that Native American reservations across the nation have tribal sovereignty.

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Most tribes on the reservations will establish their own rules and laws via a tribal council, as can be seen when looking at their specific laws.

Nebraska has many different Native American tribes, and as such, the rules on each tribe’s reservation are different.

Some examples of the laws are as follows, according to Handgunlaw.us:

• The Fort Belknap Tribe classifies carrying a concealed weapon such as any dirk, dagger, pistol, revolver, slingshot, sword, Billy club, or knuckles as a Class 2 offense, and shall be fined no more than $500.

• However, the Confederated Tribes of Salish and Kootenai have exceptions to the concealed carry laws. While these tribes’ stance on concealed weapons is the same as the Fort Belknap Tribe, the Confederated Tribes of Salish and Kootenai provide exceptions to citizens who are law enforcement officers of the Tribes, authorized by a judge of the Tribal Court to carry a weapon, a person permitted under state law to carry a concealed weapon, or carrying arms on the premises of one’s own home or business.

• While some of the Nebraska gun laws don’t apply to all Native American reservations, citizens who are properly licensed can carry their concealed weapons on the lands of the Confederated Tribes of Salish and Kootenai. Staying informed on the laws will definitely benefit those who are looking to carry weapons on Native American land.

This article does not constitute legal advice. Check the current gun laws before purchasing or traveling with a firearm.

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