Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Bloomberg praises new gun law in Nevada, no decision on 2020

Bloomberg

John Locher / AP

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg speaks at a news conference at a gun control advocacy event, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019, in Las Vegas. Bloomberg on Tuesday applauded the recent passage of gun background check law in Nevada, but said he has yet to decide on a 2020 presidential bid.

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Tuesday applauded the recent passage of gun background check law in Nevada, but said he has yet to decide on a 2020 presidential bid.

The Democrat has said he will decide by the end of February whether to join a crowded field of candidates.

"I haven't made a decision yet," the former mayor said at a news conference in Las Vegas about gun legislation.

He spoke at a news conference after meeting privately with members of the state's politically powerful Culinary Union, which represents casino workers and has been credited with helping Democrats win key victories in the state in recent years.

Bloomberg and the Culinary Union posted images on Twitter of his meeting with union leaders and said they discussed issues including health care, immigrants and working families.

Bloomberg's Everytown for Gun Safety organization heavily funded a 2016 ballot initiative to impose universal background checks on gun sales in Nevada. The measure passed but the state's former governor and attorney general, both Republicans, said the measure was flawed and could not be implemented.

A court case to compel the law's enforcement has stalled but the state's new Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak signed another background check bill into law this month that lawmakers say remedies the issue.

Supporters of the bill said it closes a loophole that allows gun buyers to avoid background checks when purchasing from unlicensed sellers.

Opponents said the measure would infringe on Second Amendment rights without increasing public safety and that criminals would find a way to get guns anyway.