Back to News March 4, 2026
NSSF PROFILE Q&A: Governor Jim Pillen (R-Neb.)
Editor’s Note: We are pleased to post the latest of our occasional Q&A features with an elected official who supports hunting and the shooting sports. NSSF thanks Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen for speaking with us about his staunch support for the Second Amendment, hunting and recreational target shooting and the importance of the firearm and ammunition industry to his constituents in the Cornhusker State.
Governor Pillen assumed office in January 2023 and was recently featured as one of several pro-Second Amendment governors on stage for the 5th Annual Governors’ Forum at NSSF’s SHOT Show®.
1 — Why are hunting and the shooting sports important to you in your job as Nebraska’s top executive?
Hunting and shooting give us the chance to get out on the land, find some peace and quiet and enjoy Nebraska’s great outdoors. We’ve got over 75,000 miles of rivers and watersheds, so we have plentiful wildlife and incredible waterfowl.
The biggest thing for me at this stage of life – what really gets me fired up – is making sure young people, my grandbabies, have those same opportunities.
As a people, we need to spend more time outside, where there’s the germination of plants and the conception of animals, so we can understand real-life values and think critically. Too many people today are obsessed with these “dumb phones” and don’t think for themselves anymore. Hunting and the outdoors have practical benefits and teach you so much more about life.
Plus, I’m a bit competitive – I love to shoot skeet, and I want to win when I do.
2 — How have you grown as an outdoorsman, and talk about the impact those experiences have had on your family?
I’ve been really blessed – we’ve spent a fair amount of time, especially over the last 20 years, learning, shooting and having fun with it. If you aren’t out hunting or shooting, you’ll eventually realize that you’re missing out on an extraordinary sport and the relationships that come with it.
Honestly, getting outdoors has helped me find better balance in life, and it’s become a family deal for us. We go out on our land a lot – shoot skeet, chase rabbits – and every time, my grandson says on the way home, “This one was better than the last.” There’s never a bad day outdoors.
Folks who love the outdoors, they’re the best kind of people. That’s who I want to be around.
3 — What’s your favorite place to hunt and shoot?
My family has a place near Hastings in south-central Nebraska that I love – Bunker Hill. It’s extraordinary. Especially this year, our country’s 250th anniversary, it’s remarkable to think about its history: After Pearl Harbor, the government built a massive facility there to store ammunition – 15 square miles in the middle of the country where no adversary could reach it. We have part of that land today, and it’s become an extraordinary wildlife refuge. There’s never, ever a bad day there.
4 — What are some of the things related to the Second Amendment and shooting sports that you’ve accomplished as governor and are proud of?
I believe being a vocal advocate and defender of the Second Amendment is critical.
Former Nebraska State Senator Tom Brewer is an extraordinary human being. An American military hero and the first Native American to serve in the Unicameral. He battled for eight years – before I was elected – to get constitutional carry passed in Nebraska, and thank God, in his final year and my first year in office, we got it through.
It was the first bill I signed, and I’ll never forget that day.
5 — Looking ahead, what can we do to protect the Second Amendment from being infringed upon?
It’s really simple – conservatives have to stand up. Don’t cower, don’t take it for granted.
We need to educate people because guns don’t kill people – people do. The idea that the Second Amendment is the problem is nonsense.
You hear horror stories from around the world where people don’t have guns at home and they’re defenseless. Where people don’t have a Second Amendment, the government controls them.
That’s why ours is so vital – it’s what makes this country truly free and safe.
6 — Nebraska has a wide-ranging hunting industry. What makes hunting in Nebraska so special?
Our neighbors to the north may be known for pheasants, but we’ve got everything – and we’ve got long seasons for it all. We have an extraordinary deer population, incredible waterfowl, and multiple migration routes across our state.
The Platte River, a freshwater river that keeps moving throughout the year, is a huge part of that ecosystem. Nebraska’s hunting seasons stretch over a long period, with great diversity in species and locations.
It all makes for an incredible experience. And you know, we’re humble – we don’t brag about it. Reality is: We’re one of the best hunting and shooting destinations that nobody talks about, but everyone eventually finds out about.
7 — Why are organizations like NSSF and events like SHOT Show so important?
They bring us together.
They help us understand what’s going on in the industry, promote growth and help strengthen our economy. They are a resource that reminds us that we can’t take our rights for granted – there are always people trying to take them away. Organizations like NSSF are vital in defending those rights.
Plus, it’s a lot of fun – SHOT Show is just awesome and a great opportunity to highlight many great Nebraska companies who make this industry special. From Hornady to Mead Industries’ ammunition to small precision guns craftsmen, I love celebrating Nebraska’s impact on the industry.
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