ILA | Nevada: Policy Committee Deadline Rapidly Approaching, Continue to Contact Members of the Judiciary Committee!

May 17^th is the deadline for legislation to pass out of the policy committee in the second chamber.  Assembly Bill 291 and Assembly Bill 153, which were previously heard in a joint Judiciary Committee hearing, can be scheduled for a work session and vote at any time.  Please click the “Take Action” button or call the phone numbers below to contact members of the committee and urge them to OPPOSE AB 291 and AB 153.

Senate Judiciary Committee
Chair: Nicole Cannizzaro (D-6), (775) 684-1475
Vice Chair: Dallas Harris (D-11), (775) 684-6502
James Ohrenschall (D-21), (775) 684-6503
Marilyn Dondero Loop (D-8), (775) 684-1445
Melanie Scheible (D-9), (775) 684-1421
Scott Hammond (R-18), (775) 684-1442
Ira Hansen (R-14), (775) 684-1480
Keith Pickard (R-20), (775) 684-1481 

Assembly Bill 291, introduced by Assemblywoman Sandra Jauregui (D-41), is omnibus anti-gun legislation that is a threat to both law-abiding gun owners residing in Nevada and those who are visiting.  Clark County has already begun drafting gun control legislation that will expand gun-free zones.  Most notably, AB 291 would:

• Allow Local Gun Control Laws: Nevada’s firearm preemption laws have been on the books since 1989 and have been improved over the years to ensure consistency in firearm laws throughout the state, by occupying the field of firearm-related regulations with the State Legislature.  With the amendments to AB 291, the legislature would cede authority to the counties to pass stricter gun control laws without limitation.  This move could result in a confusing patchwork of laws for both residents and visitors to navigate while subjecting Nevadans in one county to a different set of rules and regulations regarding their constitutional rights than to a person in a neighboring county. 
• Criminalize Certain Firearm Modifications: With the amendments, this legislation remains broader than existing federal regulations, and would criminalize certain modifications on semi-automatic firearms.  Violations of this section would result in felony penalties. 
• Expand the ability for localities to create “gun-free zones:” These arbitrary boundaries would only disarm law-abiding citizens and leave them defenseless against the criminals who ignore such restrictions.

Assembly Bill 153, introduced by Assembly Member Ozzie Fumo (D-21), would expand Nevada’s current law regulating firearm storage that could make firearms unavailable for self-defense.

Again, please click the “Take Action” button or call the phone numbers above to contact members of the committee and urge them to OPPOSE AB 291 and AB 153.