Concealed-gun signs clear to go up in Nevada

Tuesday, March 7, 2000 | 8:48 a.m.

The Legislative Commission voted in December to prohibit citizens from carrying legally permitted weapons into its offices, but the sponsor of a measure liberalizing Nevada's concealed-weapons law in 1999 asked the panel to reconsider.

Assemblyman Lynn Hettrick, R-Gardnerville, who has a concealed weapon permit, said he wanted to make his case to the commission, a panel of lawmakers that sets policy for the Legislature.

The commission was scheduled to consider Hettrick's request at its meeting Monday. But Lorne Malkiewich, director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau, said Hettrick "decided not to pursue the matter" and the request was withdrawn.

The withdrawal means that the commission's December decision to post signs barring weapons will stand. The signs will be ordered soon and posted at entrances to legislative buildings.

Assembly Majority Leader Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, a police captain and member of the commission, recommended the signs in December.

Perkins said legislative police can handle any situations that might involve the use of force, and having armed citizens likely would only cause confusion in any such incident.

The 1999 law allowing concealed weapons in public buildings also said public agencies could prohibit the weapons by posting signs. The bill prohibited concealed weapons in schools, airports or buildings with metal detectors.

Some state buildings, including the Nevada Supreme Court, already have posted signs prohibiting weapons. The Nevada Capitol, which houses the offices of the governor, treasurer, controller and secretary of state, has not posted signs.

To get a concealed-weapons permit, a citizen must submit to a background check, have no criminal record and pass a firearm safety course. About 13,000 Nevada residents have such permits.