Las Vegas Sun

April 26, 2024

District attorney backing Nevada gun background check initiative

District Attorney Steve Wolfson

Sam Morris / Las Vegas Sun

District Attorney Steve Wolfson talks during an interview Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2013.

The top prosecutor in Las Vegas says he's backing a ballot measure to require criminal background checks on all weapon sales in Nevada, including online and at gun shows.

In a statement from initiative-backers Nevadans for Background Checks, Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson says it's too easy for people who shouldn't legally have guns to get them when background checks aren't required.

Nevada currently requires licensed gun dealers to conduct criminal background checks on gun sales, but not private sellers.

Wolfson joins advocates who say Question 1 in November would close a loophole that lets felons, domestic abusers and other prohibited people buy guns on the Internet and at shows.

A National Rifle Association spokeswoman says the measure is poorly written, costly, and would make criminals out of law-abiding citizens.

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