Monday, June 3, 2013

86% Matters

That was fast. Just moments ago, the Assembly finally passed SB 221. The final vote was 23-19. Assembly Democrats James Ohrenschall (D-Sunrise Manor), Richard Carrillo (D-Paradise), Skip Daly (D-Sparks), and Mike Sprinkle (D-Sparks) joined all Assembly Republicans in voting against the bill to expand background checks for firearms purchases, but there were ultimately still enough Democratic votes to pass it.

So now, the bill is heading to Governor Brian Sandoval's (R-NRA) desk. And he continues threatening to veto the bill. So now, the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Demand Action campaign is fighting back and taking to the airwaves (again).





Keep in mind that the policy of expanding background checks for gun purchases has 86% support here in Nevada. And it's officially passed the full Nevada Legislature today. ProgressNow Nevada made sure to remind everyone of both important facts.

“Today the Nevada Legislature showed courage and leadership by passing SB 221, which will require common sense background checks to be performed on almost all gun sales in Nevada.

Some people don’t know this, but right now in Nevada someone with a criminal record can go to a gun show and legally buy as many guns as they want without passing a background check. Most people think that type of sale is already illegal, but it’s not. SB 221 will make our communities safer by closing that loophole and requiring a background check for this and other types of private purchases.

We must now turn to Governor Sandoval to see if he will stand with the 86 percent of Nevadans who support a stronger background check system or if he will stand with the extreme right-wing element that opposes it.”

So do Governor Sandoval and the legislators who voted against SB 221 really want to continue this? Without universal background checks, this happens in Nevada, too.





The weapons purchased at these gun shows and online are then used in crimes here in Nevada. These weapons are also smuggled into states (like California) with stricter state level gun laws. And as long as Congress fails to act on a national background checks law, criminals will continue to enjoy easy access to weapons here in Nevada.

Is this what we really want? No, it's not... At least not for 86% of us. So does Governor Sandoval really want to ignore 86% of his constituents? Does he actually want to send the message that he prioritizes the NRA seal of approval over the safety of all Nevadans?



1 comment:

  1. 86%, a dubious figure to begin with, does not matter when the bill is unconstitutional.

    Article 1 Section 11 of the Nevada Constitution:

    Every citizen has the right to keep and bear arms for security and defense, for lawful hunting and recreational use and for other lawful purposes.

    If you want to grab guns, you need to first alter the state constitution. Til then, this and any other gun grabber bill is an unconstitutional epic fail.

    ReplyDelete