Tomorrow, May 15, is the legislative deadline for bills to pass out of the second house. Critical legislation, including campus carry bill, Assembly Bill 148, could be left on the table with gun owners getting the short end of the stick. Unfortunately, important bills may stall in committee due to a conflict between legislators. It is critical that Senate Judiciary Chair Greg Brower hears from you. Please call and email Chairman Brower and strongly urge him to schedule hearings and work sessions for Assembly Bills 148, 139, 357 and 404.
Senator Greg Brower (R-15)
775-684-1419
[email protected]
AB 148, introduced by Assemblywoman Michele Fiore (R-4), seeks to expand areas where concealed carry permit holders can lawfully carry to include university campuses, public buildings that are not equipped with a metal detector and a sign prohibiting carrying of concealed firearms, and parking lots for K-12 schools. This legislation will respect the rights of citizens to not be rendered defenseless by crossing arbitrary lines. This would help to resolve a longstanding problem in Nevada where firearms are prohibited in vehicles in school parking lots, meaning that a parent cannot drop off their child at school without being in violation of the law if they are carrying concealed. AB 148 passed the Assembly with a 24-15 vote.
In addition to AB 148, AB 139, AB 357 and AB 404 are also waiting to be scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee. AB 139, introduced by Assemblyman Jim Wheeler (R-39), makes changes to the existing concealed weapons laws to authorize a non-resident who possesses a valid permit issued by another state to carry a concealed firearm in Nevada. AB 139 passed the Assembly with a 24-17 vote.
AB 357, introduced by Assemblywoman Fiore, would authorize certain individuals who are prohibited from possessing firearms to petition the district court for the restoration of the right to own, possess, and control a firearm. AB 357 passed the Assembly with a 41-1 vote.
AB 404 was scheduled for a hearing last week but was pulled from the agenda at the last minute with no explanation. AB 404, also introduced by Assemblywoman Fiore, would require the chief law enforcement officer of a jurisdiction to certify the transfer or making of a firearm, as required by the National Firearms Act, if the person is not prohibited from receiving or possessing a firearm by law. This legislation also permits an applicant to appeal a denial to the district court. In addition, AB 404 provides that if an individual submits an application for renewal of a concealed carry permit before the expiration date, the permit remains valid until the sheriff grants or denies the application. Further, AB 404 allows for new residents to carry concealed with their valid out-of-state permit until their application for a Nevada concealed carry permit is approved or denied. AB 404 passed the Assembly with a 35-7 vote.
Other gun-related bills have recently been scheduled for hearings.
Tomorrow, Senate Bill 175, an omnibus gun bill, is scheduled for a work session in the Assembly Judiciary Committee. Introduced by Senator Roberson, SB 175 would improve concealed carry recognition and revises self-defense laws. Most importantly, this legislation would greatly improve Nevada’s preemption law and abolish handgun registration in Clark County. SB 175 was passed by the Senate with a 14-5 vote.
Assembly Bill 100, introduced by Assemblyman John Ellison (R-33), aims to protect the constitutional rights of Nevadans by requiring legal action by the Attorney General if, at the direction of the Governor or in the opinion of the Attorney General, Nevadans' Second Amendment rights have been infringed through executive order. AB 100 passed the Nevada Assembly with a 27-14 vote and was heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee today.
Assembly Bill 352, also introduced by Assemblyman Ellison, would allow for the carrying of a concealed firearm in a public building by a permit holder unless that building has both a metal detector and a sign at each public entrance indicating that no firearms are allowed in the building. AB 352 passed the Assembly with a 26-14 vote and was considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee last week, but this bill still needs to be scheduled for a work session.
Please stay tuned to www.nraila.org and your email inbox for further updates on these bills as they progress through the Nevada Legislature.