Senator Tom Brewer
43rd District
04-24-2020

I am humbled to report I recently received a call from the National Rifle Association. They have given me their highest rating of “A+” and their endorsement. Protecting the right to keep and bear arms is something that is close to my heart. The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution is the one amendment that guarantees all the others.

This is not some dusty old relic from the past. This right that we recognize in our federal and state constitutions is as important now as it ever was. Nebraska voters spoke loud and clear in 1988 at the ballot box. They overwhelmingly voted to amend our state constitution to clarify that the Second Amendment is considered an individual right in Nebraska, one enjoyed for many different lawful purposes.

Hunting brings generations of families together and puts calories on the supper table. There are lessons available in the field with a parent or grandparent that a kid just cannot find anywhere else. Nebraska has some of the best hunting opportunities in the world, which is why hunting, fishing, and wildlife-watching contribute billions of dollars to the state economy every year.

Competitive shooting teaches concentration, discipline, and teamwork. It is a passion of mine, and I have shot in more competitions than I can count and coached teams in a few others. We develop a lot of good shooters here in Nebraska. The Nebraska Cornhuskers rifle team has been in the national tournament more than half a dozen times since the team was formed in 1998, and is coached by a former team member — Rachel Martin — who ought to be headed to the next Olympics herself.

Twenty-three percent of gun owners (and growing) are women. More every day are applying for their concealed handgun permit and taking classes like the NRA’s “Don’t Be A Victim” program. Youth development programs like Project Appleseed, the scouts, and many others teach important character values through shooting sports.

Defense of self and family is an everyday benefit of the Second Amendment. Violent crime is down from highs in the eighties and nineties, but the average American still has about a 1 in 650 chance of being victimized in a violent crime this year. Police are trained to help, and they want to help, but they cannot be everywhere at once. Keeping a firearm for defense is at the core of the constitutional right to arms.

Most importantly, the right to keep and bear arms is there to protect our liberty. We are blessed by liberties not enjoyed by many others around the world. But the price of liberty is constant vigilance. The Declaration of Independence tells us that a government that usurps rights and abuses the people should not be the government for very long. The right to keep and bear arms is what makes that statement more than just ink on the page of a musty old document. We must protect it at all costs.

Please contact my office with any comments, questions, or concerns. Email me at tbrewer@leg.ne.gov, mail a letter to Sen. Tom Brewer, Room #1101, P.O. Box 94604, Lincoln, NE 68509, or call us at (402) 471-2628.