LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska gun-safety activists say a proposal to eliminate city and county firearm ordinances in favor of statewide regulations would benefit the national gun lobby more than residents.

Senators heard testimony Thursday on a bill that would impose statewide uniformity for gun and ammunition ownership, eliminating what gun-rights lobbyists call a confusing patchwork of local ordinances.

Sen. Laura Ebke of Crete says her bill would still allow communities to regulate where a firearm could be discharged.

Opponents say the bill slashes the ability of community leaders to protect citizens with their own gun ownership rules. The bill would allow for an individual or organization “adversely affected” by a local ordinance to sue the city or county that created it.