SIGN UP FOR BREAKING NEWS Get local stories sent straight to your inbox as news breaks. Submit Privacy Notice

'Intimidated and scared': State senator wants to ban weapons from Capitol Some gun rights supporters brought weapons to a legislative hearing on proposed gun bills Friday. Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Hide Transcript Show Transcript

$10,000 FINE. ROB: AS LAWMAKERS TAKE AIM AT GUN BUILT THE SESSION, ONE STATE SENATOR SAYS THE SHOW WALK -- THE SHOW OF OPPOSITION HAS LEFT HER "SCARED AND INTIMIDATED." JULIE: SHE’S TALKING ABOUT THESE GUYS WHO BROUGHT AR-15’S TO THE CAPITOL FOR FRIDAY’S FIREARM BILLS. BUT GOVERNOR PETE RICKETTS SAYS THE MEN HAVE THE RIGHT TO CARRY THEM AT THE CAPITOL. ROB: KETV NEWSWATCH 7’S MICHELLE BANDUR IS LIVE WITH THE STORY, NEW AT 6:00. MICHELLE: OMAHA SENATOR MACHAELA CAVANAUGH SAYS NOT ONLY WAS SH AFRAID, BUT SO WERE OTHER STATE EMPLOYEES WHO SHE SAYS LEFT WORK EARLY FRIDAY, WHEN THOSE MEN BROUGHT THEIR GUNS TO THE CAPITOL. >> THIS IS AN AR-15. IT’S CURRENLTY ON SAFE, OBVIOUSLY. MICHELLE: A SEMI-AUTOMATIC ASSAULT RIFLE WITH THE SAFETY ON MADE STATE SENATOR MACHAELA CAVANAUGH FEARFUL FRIDAY AT THE STATE CAPITOL. >> I WAS SCARED. I WAS WORRIED ABOUT HOW SOMEONE MIGHT REACT TO MY BILL AND WHAT I HAD TO SAY MIGHT TRIGGER A DANGEROUS REACTION. MICHELLE: THE OMAHA SENATOR VOICED HER CONCERNS ON THE LEGISLATIVE FLOOR MONDAY ABOUT THE STATE’S OPEN CARRY LAW. >> AFTER WHAT TRANSPIRED IN BUILDING, IN MY PLACE OF WORK ON FRIDAY, I AM TRAUMITIZED. MICHELLE: GORDON STATE SENATOR TOM BREWER WEIGHED IN, TOO. HE’S A STAUNCH SUPPORTER OF THE SECOND AMENDMENT. >> I OPENLY SAID I DIDN’T THINK THERE WAS A NEED FOR ANYONE TO BRING A GUN INTO THIS BUILDING. MICHELLE: BUT THAT SAID, BREWER SAID COMMITTEE RULES LIMITING PEOPLE TO 90 SECOND SPEECHES DID A DISSERVICE TO THE GUN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS. >> ALL I AM ASKING IS, LET’S NOT WRITE DUMB BILLS TO CAUSE PEOPLE TO GET STIRRED UP AND COME INTO THIS BUILDING AND WANT TO SPEAK AND THEN DENY THEM THE ABILITY TO SPEAK. MICHELLE: THE ACTIVISTS OPPOSED TWO PROPOSED GUN BILLS. CAVANAUGH’S BILL WOULD PROHIBIT SOMEONE CONVICTED A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CRIME TO OWN A GU THE OTHER BILL DISCUSSES SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING, FIVE DA BACKGROUND CHECKS, AND A TWO DAY WAITING PERIOD. >> WE HAVE ACTUALLY PHASED OUT CERTAIN WEAPONS. WHEN WILL IT HAPPEN WITH THE REST? THAT’S ALL I’M ASKING. MICHELLE: CAVANAUGH DOESN’T WANT TO PEOPLE TESTIFYING WITH WEAPONS AGAIN IS LOOKING AT HOW TO BAN THEM FROM THE CAPITOL. >> WE CLEARLY HAVE NO PROTOCOLS IN PLACE TO ADDRESS THIS BODY AND THE PUBLIC WHEN 400 CITIZENS CONVERGE ON THE CPAITOL TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWPOINT WHILE LIKELY CARRYING A DEADLY WEAPON. MICHELLE: CAVANAUGH IS ALSO CONCERNED SHE HAD TO ASK FOR SECURITY FROM THE NEBRASKA STA METRO. INSTEAD, -- STATE BUT TROLL. -- FROM THE NEBRASKA STATE PATROL. INSTEAD, SHE SAYS SHE WAS NFORMED BY A PASSER BY THERE WERE GUNS IN THE CAPITOL. THE PATROL TELLS ME IT PROVIDED ESCORTS TO THOSE WHO ASKED FOR THEM, AND MONITORED THE ACTIVITY IN THE HEARING ROOM AND AROUND THE CAPITOL. ROB: MICHELLE, THANK YOU. NEBRASKA GOVERNOR PETE RICKETTS STANDS BY THOSE WHO BROUGHT GUNS TO THE CAPITOL TO MAKE THEIR POINT. >> I SUPPORT OUR SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS AND I SUPPORT OUR FOLKS WHO ARE GOING TO