Senators open some doors for legal concealed weapons

CARSON CITY -- It took Nevada senators two minutes to approve a measure that will allow concealed-weapons permit holders to carry their firearms into public buildings.

In a 19-2 vote Thursday afternoon, Senate members expanded the list of buildings into which one can carry a legally owned gun by adding courthouses, federal and state office buildings.

Schools, college and university campuses and buildings, airports and any structure with metal detectors at every entrance are excluded from the expanded list. On Wednesday, Sen. Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, added an amendment that called for posting the prohibition at exempted buildings so that those who carry weapons would know exactly which ones were excluded.

Other than that, there was no discussion. There was no talk of the April shootings at a Littleton, Colo., high school that left 15 people dead and inspired a passionate national debate on gun ownership. Other states have reconsidered legislation that would have benefited gun owners. President Clinton has renewed his stance against gun ownership, and Congress is considering more than two dozen measures that restrict gun ownership or manufacturing.

Still, Nevada lawmakers are continuing to make it clear that legal, responsible gun ownership is welcome here. Earlier this week a Senate panel said only the state and individuals would be allowed to sue a gun manufacturer or salesman in the aftermath of a shooting that causes grave injury or death. Cities, counties and other governmental or political agencies would not be allowed to sue.

"Nevada's always been pro-gun," Assemblyman Don Gustavson told the panel Wednesday. "It's not the guns committing the crimes. It's the individuals committing the crimes."

Gustavson is the Sun Valley Republican who co-sponsored the lawsuit bill, which now is headed to the Senate floor for a vote.

Still, not everyone who voted Thursday was pro-gun enough to favor the expanded concealed weapons measure. Sens. Maggie Carlton, D-Las Vegas, and Joe Neal, D-North Las Vegas, voted no.

"I always vote against concealed weapons bills," Neal said. "I don't like concealed weapons. If they'd carry them on the outside, I'd vote for that."

"Nevada's always been pro-gun. It's not the guns committing the crimes. It's the individuals committing the crimes."Assemblyman Don GustavsonREPUBLICAN, SUN VALLEY

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