Concealed-weapons bill introduced

Scott Reeder

Friday, March 26, 1999 | 11:10 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Soon, Nevadans may be able to walk into public buildings wearing a concealed firearm.

Legislation to allow this was introduced Thursday in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

"It's a proven fact that concealed-weapons laws lower crime," Assemblyman Lynn Hettrick, R-Gardnerville, said. "Why should we have a law that the only place you can't have guns is in public buildings?"

Criminals are less likely to attack people if there is a possibility that the person is armed, Hettrick said as he argued in favor of Assembly Bill 166.

This argument left Sen. Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, skeptical.

"Why do you want to conceal them? Just strap them on so all of the criminals can see them," Titus said before a room filled with people wearing cowboy hats, western suits, boots and bolo ties.

Sen. Maurice Washington, R-Sparks, added, "We are in the wild, wild West. If you want to strap on, strap on. If you want conceal it, conceal it."

According to Lt. Stan Olsen, of Metro Police, about 9,000 people in Clark County have licenses to carry concealed weapons.

Titus said she fails to see the merit in the bill, which would allow these people to carry firearms in public buildings.

"We are no longer in the wild West. The last time I checked, we were about to enter the 21st century," she said.

Hettrick said later the only public places he does not believe properly licensed people should be able to carry a firearm is in a secured area like an airport or a courtroom.

Current state law prohibits concealed firearms in police stations, jails, courthouses, schools, any government building and most college campuses.

But under the proposed legislation concealed guns would be allowed anywhere but in places that have metal detectors at each public entrance or have erected signs prohibiting them.

"Under this bill, unless someone put up a sign, someone could walk around the Nevada Capitol wearing a concealed gun," Titus said.

Hettrick, who said he has a permit to carry a concealed weapon, refused to say whether he already wears a gun in the Capitol.

"State employees already can carry a concealed weapon in this building -- and I'm a state employee," he said.