The Republican-controlled Nebraska Legislature on Wednesday approved a permitless concealed carry bill, sending it to Gov. Jim Pillen, who has pledged to sign it into law. 

State Sen. Tom Brewer's Legislative Bill 77 was approved 33-14 this week, overcoming a Democrat filibuster. The measure, like most permitless carry laws adopted nationwide in the past decade, doesn't scrap the state's current concealed carry permitting scheme. Rather, it simply makes getting such a permit optional, removing the threat of fines and jail time for carrying a concealed handgun without such a valid license. 

Brewer, a retired U.S. Army colonel and a member of the Oglala Lakota tribe who represents Nebraska's 43rd District, has been pushing for the proposal for the past several sessions. 

"Today marks the end of my seven-year battle for Constitutional Carry in Nebraska," the lawmaker noted on social media. "Thirty-three Nebraska senators voted this morning to end the Final Reading filibuster on LB 77 and to pass the bill. I have spoken with Governor Jim Pillen, and he is eager to sign the bill into law. That will make Nebraska the 27th Constitutional Carry state." 

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Thanking the support of a number of pro-gun groups including the Nebraska Firearms Owners Association, the National Rifle Association, and Gun Owners of America, Brewer went further, saying, "Most of all, I want to thank everyday Nebraskans who spoke up and made it clear to my colleagues that they wanted us to make the words in the Nebraska and federal constitutions mean something."

Already this year, Florida passed a similar permitless carry bill, signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis in earlier this month. Meanwhile. Alabama's own carry law took effect in January.

Banner image: SIG Sauer P365 XMacro 9mm in a DeSantis Slim Tuk holster. A CRKT CEO stands at the ready.