Bill introduced to do away with Clark County handgun registration

Nevada Assembly Speaker John Hambrick, R-Las Vegas, has introduced Assembly Bill 2 that would allow guns to be stored in a vehicle if the vehicle is occupied or locked, or if the weapon is secured in a locked container. (Cathleen Allison/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

CARSON CITY — Two gun-related bills, including a measure that would do away with a handgun registration requirement in Clark County, were introduced Friday in the Assembly.

Assembly Bill 127, sponsored by Speaker John Hambrick, R-Las Vegas, and other lawmakers, proposes to do away with local regulation of handguns. The bill would reserve the right to regulate firearms to the Legislature.

Hambrick said the bill would do away with Clark County’s handgun registration requirement. Clark County is the only county in Nevada that has such a requirement.

Las Vegas police opposed the elimination of the registration requirement during a hearing on a similar bill in 2013. The registration requirement has been in place in Clark County since 1948 and was called a valuable investigative tool in testimony from a Las Vegas police lobbyist.

“The newly elected sheriff has already said he already wants to do away with the blue cards,” Hambrick said after the bill was introduced. “Now whether the County Commission will go along with it remains to be seen.”

Joe Lombardo was elected sheriff in November. In a televised debate in October, Lombardo did say he would seek to eliminate the Blue Card Program requiring county handgun registration.

AB127 would expand the rights of the Legislature over the carrying and storage of firearms and ammunition and the transfer, sale, purchase, possession, carrying, ownership, transportation, storage, registration and licensing of firearm accessories.

It would also provide that certain county, city or town ordinances or regulations which are inconsistent with the rights and powers of the Legislature are null and void.

It was referred to the Government Affairs Committee.

In the other measure introduced Friday, students could not be disciplined for simulating a gun while playing or wearing clothing or accessories that depict weapons or show support for the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Assembly Bill 121, sponsored by Republican Assemblymen Jim Wheeler of Minden, John Ellison of Elko and Brent Jones of Las Vegas, along with other conservative lawmakers, was referred to the Assembly Education Committee.

As defined in the bill, students using a partially eaten pastry or food item to simulate a firearm, possessing a toy gun 2 inches in length or shorter, or using a hand or finger to mimic having a gun would be protected from discipline.

These are just two of several bills involving Second Amendment issues expected to be considered this legislative session. The Assembly Judiciary Committee on Wednesday heard testimony on a bill that would allow weapons on school grounds that are in locked vehicles.

Contact Sean Whaley at swhaley@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3900. Find him on Twitter: @seanw801. Contact Sandra Chereb at schereb@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901. Find her on Twitter: @SandraChereb