Gun violence has been a significant concern in the United States, and debates over gun control laws have become increasingly contentious. While some states have enacted stricter gun control laws, others have been more resistant to change. In this essay, we will compare and contrast gun control laws in two states: Omaha, Nebraska, and California. We will examine the background of gun control laws in each state, analyze the effectiveness of these laws, and compare gun violence rates in Omaha and California. By doing so, we hope to comprehensively understand the similarities and differences between gun control policies in these two states.
Omaha, Nebraska, has a long history of requiring a purchase permit for handgun sales, which means that all handgun buyers in the state must pass a background check before purchase [1]. Despite the lack of a ban on the sale of semiautomatic firearms, Omaha has seen a steady decrease in gun violence over the past 15 years [2]. Nebraska has some foundational gun violence prevention laws but still lacks some essential policies [1].