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Lawmakers told out-of-state gun owners should get Nevada permits
By JOE MULLIN
Associated Press Writer
CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) - Gun owners with concealed-weapon permits from one of more than a dozen other states could carry their weapons in Nevada without getting a permit in this state, under a proposal debated Wednesday by lawmakers.
Currently, Nevada law doesn't recognize out-of-state permits. That would change under SB237, by Sen. John Lee, D-Las Vegas, which would make Nevada recognize certain states' permits.
Under Lee's proposal, only states with rules similar to or stricter than Nevada's permit rules would be recognized. The attorney general's office would determine which states make the list. Lee said that 14 other states' permits would be valid if the bill passes with amendments proposed by police.
Lee told the Senate Judiciary Committee the change will make life easier for gun enthusiasts who travel to Nevada for sporting events, and it also will help Nevada permit-holders who will have their permits recognized in states with reciprocal agreements.
There are about 26,000 permitees in Nevada, 15,000 of them in the Las Vegas area, Lee estimated, adding that most of those permitees don't carry weapons all the time.
"These people who get these (concealed weapon) permits are just good people like you, people who just feel they want a little added protection in their lives," said Lee.
Law enforcement officials, who have opposed such agreements in years past, said that better technology has assured them that it would be safe to recognize some other states' permits. No one opposed the bill.
Frank Adams, representing the Nevada Sheriffs and Chiefs Association, supported the bill but asked for several amendments. One would only allow states that have an online database with the names of permit-holders, accessible to police 24 hours a day. Adams also wants Nevada sheriffs to have some say on which states get on the list. He figures the total eventually will be 15.
"We've always opposed this in the past because there was no mechanism to make sure (other states) met or exceeded our requirements," said Adams. "This bill does that."
Adams also asked lawmakers to eliminate part of the bill that would eliminate the requirement for photos on concealed weapon permits.
Lee said he had no problem deleting that provision, which he said was in the bill because producing photo cards could be onerous for smaller counties.
Steve Robinson, representing Gov. Jim Gibbons' office, also supported the bill.
"The citizens of Nevada are safer because of concealed carry," said Robinson, adding that the bill "is going to help not just our neighboring residents, but help our own."
