As the policy committee deadline of April 14 approaches for the chamber of origin, below is an update on the pro- and anti-gun bills that your NRA-ILA is continuing to fight for, and against, in the Nevada Legislature. In order to continue in the legislative process, bills must either pass out of their policy committee in the chamber of origin by April 14 or be made eligible for exemption.
Pro-Gun:
Assembly Bill 87, sponsored by Assemblywoman Robin Titus (R-38), would allow new Nevada residents to continue to carry a concealed firearm by utilizing their recognized out of state permit until that permit expires or a Nevada CCW is issued. Currently, new residents may only carry under their recognized out of state permit for 60 days. AB 87 is currently pending in the Assembly Judiciary Committee.
Assembly Bill 118, sponsored by Assemblyman Skip Daly (D-31), would allow a member of the military between 18 and 20 years of age to obtain a permit to carry a concealed firearm. Current law requires a person to be at least 21 years of age to be eligible for a concealed carry permit. If persons between 18 and 20 years of age are risking their lives for our country then they should be eligible to acquire permits for self-defense. AB 118 passed out of the Assembly Judiciary Committee on April 7 with a technical amendment and will now head to the Assembly floor for further consideration.
Assembly Bill 171 and Senate Bill 307, sponsored by Assemblyman Jim Marchant (R-37) and state Senator Donald G. Gustavson (R-14), remove the requirement that an individual must obtain a CCW in order to lawfully concealed carry a firearm. Both Assemblyman Marchant and Senator Gustavson are committed to working with NRA on technical amendments to these bills. AB 171 and SB 307 are currently pending in the Judiciary Committees of their respective chambers of origin.
Senate Bill 102, a pro-gun bill sponsored by state Senator James Settelmeyer (R-17), would allow lawful gun owners with concealed weapon permits to carry or store their firearms in their vehicles on school property. SB 102 is currently pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Senate Joint Resolution 11, sponsored by state Senator Scott Hammond (R-18), proposes to amend the Nevada State Constitution to preserve the right to hunt, trap and fish. SJR 11 passed both chambers in 2015 and must pass both chambers of the legislature this year in order to be presented to the voters in 2018. This bill was heard in the Senate Natural Resources Committee on March 14 and is awaiting a work session.
Anti-Gun:
Senate Bill 115, sponsored by state Senator Moises Denis (D-2), would expand the list of places firearms are prohibited from being carried and kept to include public library property. In addition to banning firearms within the library, this prohibition would be extended to include the parking lot as well. This would encompass the onsite “book drop” stations commonly used for returning library materials. SB 115 passed the Senate on March 21 and is currently pending in the Assembly Judiciary Committee.
Senate Bill 124, sponsored by state Senator Pat Spearman (D-1), would expand the prohibited persons category beyond what is currently covered under federal law. Further, this bill removes the discretion of a judge to determine whether a person can possess firearms when subject to certain protective orders. SB 124 has been scheduled for a committee hearing on Tuesday, April 11 and has been made eligible for exemption from the April 14 policy committee deadline.
Senate Bill 254, sponsored by state Senator Aaron D. Ford (D-11), would have removed the civil liability protections that were a result of the passage and enactment of Senate Bill 175 in 2015. Your NRA-ILA has been working hard in Carson City and the bill sponsor is committed to no longer pursuing the bill in its current form.
Senate Bill 351 and Senate Bill 378 would establish that a possessor of a valid medical marijuana card is not deemed to be an unlawful user or addicted to a controlled substance under Nevada law. If passed, these bills would result in the loss Nevada’s existing background check exemption for those who possess a Nevada concealed weapon permit. Individuals who possess a Nevada concealed weapon license are currently exempt from the federal background check requirement. SB 351 and SB 378 would enable federally prohibited individuals to obtain and maintain a Nevada CCW and would eliminate the ability for a Nevada CCW to serve as an alternative to the Brady requirement.
State issued permits that serve as a Brady alternative allow those with valid permits to forego the required Brady check because they have already been fully vetted and undergone the necessary background checks. Valid Nevada CCWs not only relieve permit holders from the state point of contact check, but also state required fees and unforeseen delays in processing.
SB 378 was heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee on April 7 and is scheduled for a work session on Wednesday, April 12.
Senate Bill 387, sponsored by state Senator Julia Ratti (D-13), would allow for ex parte emergency orders to remove your Second Amendment rights - not because of a criminal conviction or mental adjudication, but based on the third party allegations. This order lacks due process as firearms and ammunition are required to be surrendered weeks before a hearing may take place. SB 387 was heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on April 5 and is currently awaiting a work session.
Assembly Bill 373 would revise provisions relating to certain boards and commissions of the Executive Department of the State Government. This bill could make sportsmen the minority on the Wildlife Commission. SB 373 was heard in the Assembly Government Affairs Committee on March 30 and is currently awaiting a work session.
Assembly Bill 443 would prohibit the Board of Wildlife Commissioners from adopting regulations that allow a person to hunt black bears with a dog. The bill was also heard the Assembly Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Mining Committee on March 30 and is awaiting a work session.
Stay tuned to www.nraila.org and your email inbox for further alerts and action items on these bills.
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