Concealed-weapons bill introduced
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.
archive
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Man, 26, dies in collision with truck traveling at 100 mph
- MGM Mirage: CityCenter not affected by debt woes
- Metro admits to improper release of criminal history data
- Locomotives win inaugural UFL championship
- Bargain hunters hit stores for Black Friday
- Was a foiled bank heist a cry for help?
- If Palin’s book is so bad, then why is it a best-seller?
- Q&A: MMA fighter and Playboy model Latasha Marzolla
- UNLV recalls last year’s close shave at Louisville
- Live game blog: Bellfield, UNLV come through late, upset No. 16 Louisville
Blogs
The Kats Report
Could a savior of shuttered Las Vegas Art Museum be ... Peter Max? (6 Comments)
For Paul Stanley and KISS, rock and roll is not over (6 Comments)
Twenty years ago today, Human Nature took root on the farm (1 Comment)
Robin Leach's Las Vegas Celebrity Watch
Photo Gallery: Donny Osmond’s triumphant return to the Flamingo
The Kats Report
'DWTS' champ Donny Osmond still deft afoot in return to Flamingo (8 Comments)
Politics: The Early Line
Meeting of GOP governors draws challengers, not Gibbons (5 Comments)
Politics: Ralston's Flash
Oscar loves forcing developers to sign labor peace agreements, Culinary loves the city's downtown plans and all is forgiven (10 Comments)
Calendar »
- 29 Sun
- 30 Mon
- 1 Tue
- 2 Wed
- 3 Thu
-
Tahoe Takeover at The Bank
The Bank | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Playboy Club model search
Playboy Club | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Queen of Queens at Revolution Lounge
Beatles Revolution Lounge | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Zowie Bowie's Vintage Vegas Show at Monte Carlo
Lance Burton Theater
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati









