LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) _ Lawmakers flinched on Friday when faced with a gun bill, turning it down and virtually guaranteeing no gun restrictions will be passed this year. Some residents had asked the state to tighten gun laws after the Von Maur shooting in December where nine people were fatally wounded, including the gunman. The bill (LB958) could have increased the number of background checks done on handgun buyers and called for a state study of guns that could have led to more gun laws in the future. Lawmakers gave it first-round approval earlier this month, but were five votes short of advancing it on Friday. Senator Ernie Chambers of Omaha, who supports tougher gun laws, has called it a do-nothing measure. The bill was weakened after being introduced.