Nevada Sheriffs Meet Tomorrow in Fallon to Discuss NICS Exemption

It has come to the NRA’s attention that during the course of tomorrow’s quarterly meeting of the Nevada Sheriffs’ and Chiefs’ Association (NSCA), there will be a discussion among the seventeen county sheriffs on the merits of “allowing” early concealed carry weapons (CCW) permit renewals prior to the existing 120-day window policy as adopted by the NSCA. 

As previously reported, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) will now exempt Nevada CCW permit holders from the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) provided that the permit was issued after July 1, 2011.   

An appeal has been made to the BATFE that the exemption be applied to all current permit holders. Nevada sheriffs have been complying with the mandates for exemption since a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the sheriffs prior to the 2007 legislative session. Unfortunately, the statutory framework for this exemption was not changed until Assembly Bill 282 was recently enacted.

Whether BATFE determines that current CCW permit holders are exempt or not, the NRA challenges the authority of the NSCA to decide any sort of regulatory “policy” that sets a time frame for permit renewals.  According to individuals within the Nevada Department of Public Safety (NDPS), the 120-day early renewal “policy” was instituted as a result of a computer programming system that was based on a set of date parameters.  That system has been re-programmed to allow for early renewals, so the time constraint can no longer be used as a reason to deny a permittee’s renewal application. 

Several sheriffs have already made it clear that since the NDPS computers can now handle the paperwork, there is nothing standing in their way of taking renewals at any stage in the permit process.   Please take the time to contact your sheriff below and politely remind him that he has no authority to set a time frame on permit renewals and to cease from using the 120-day “policy” as a means to not re-issue.

Nevada Sheriffs: