Tourists’ weapons approved: Assembly panel OKs carry permits for visitors

Siobhan McDonough

Wednesday, May 9, 2001 | 10:07 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- An Assembly panel voted Tuesday to let tourists carry concealed weapons in Nevada -- as many as they want.

But it wouldn't be easy -- the gun-toting visitors would have to go through the same procedures that Nevadans must follow to get a concealed-weapons permit.

"Americans have a fetish with cars. Some have a fetish with guns," Sen. Maurice Washington, R-Sparks, said at an Assembly Judiciary Committee hearing on two concealed weapons measures, Senate Bill 20 and Senate Bill 172.

SB20 deals with the concealed weapons permit process for a nonresident of Nevada; SB172 would allow gun owners to carry more guns by removing a limitation on the number of firearms allowed on a concealed-weapons permit.

Under SB20, tourists would have to notify local authorities, apply for a permit, be fingerprinted for state and FBI records and complete a training course for each weapon they want to carry.

"The ones that are illegally carrying weapons are the ones we have to worry about," Washington said, trying to quell panelists' concerns about the proliferation of weapons in the state.

"Many are ordinary citizens -- just next-door neighbors who carry guns. Some have guns for show, some for collection, some for protection," said Washington, who couldn't get a similar measure passed in 1999.

The committee also approved SB172 by Sen. Ray Rawson, R-Las Vegas, allowing people to carry an unlimited number of concealed weapons as long as they have a concealed-weapon permit.

Currently, gun owners may only put two guns on a concealed-weapon permit.

Assemblyman Mark Manendo, D-Las Vegas, said he was alarmed by the e-mails he received on SB172 by people who said they wouldn't visit Nevada unless they could bring an unrestricted number of concealed weapons.

"People said they didn't want to visit our state," Manendo said. "They said 'I don't go anywhere without my five guns.' If someone's coming to Nevada on vacation, why do they have to pack five guns? How can they fit their clothes in their suitcases? Seems kind of odd to me."

But Las Vegas Metro Police Lt. Stan Olsen backed the bill, saying some want to carry a gun that's appropriate for the weather or certain outfits.

"It's kind of tacky when you're wearing a tuxedo not to have the engraved pearl-handled gun," he said.

Capt. Jim Nadeau of the Washoe County Sheriff's Office also supported the measure.

"If someone is willing to go through all of the steps there are to get a permit, they're usually the ones who are responsible, law-abiding citizens," he said. "We have very few problems with them waving guns around or doing anything inappropriate"

Assemblywoman Kathy McClain, D-Las Vegas, was the only committee member present who voted against the measures, saying, "I don't see any point to concealed weapons."

The bill next goes to the Assembly floor.