(AP) — Supporters of a bill to outlaw mountain lion hunting in Nebraska have failed to override Gov. Dave Heineman’s veto.

Lawmakers fell six votes short Wednesday of the 30 needed for an override. Heineman rejected the bill last week, saying the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission should have the power to manage the animals.

Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha argues that cougars pose no real threat to humans — and if they did, state law already allows people to kill them to defend themselves or their property.

The state approved mountain lion hunting in 2012, while Chambers was briefly out of office because of term limits.

Chambers introduced a motion Wednesday to reconsider the vote so that lawmakers might revisit the issue this year.