Haven Daley / Associated Press
This Nov. 27, 2019, file photo shows “ghost guns” on display at the headquarters of the San Francisco Police Department in San Francisco. Gun control legislation introduced at the Nevada Legislature calls for banning “ghost guns,” those untraceable firearms often built at home and without a serial number.
Friday, April 9, 2021 | 3:53 p.m.
Abolishing the death penalty and banning so-called “ghost guns” are one step closer to becoming state law as they advanced through “deadline day” Friday at the Nevada Legislature, when bills get voted out of committee or die unless they were tagged with an exemption.
Assembly Bill 116, which decriminalizes most traffic tickets, making them civil infractions, and AB400 that requires more than a blood test to convict someone on DUI of marijuana, also survived in the Assembly Committee on Judiciary during the 68th day of the 120-day legislative session.
So did Senate Bill 341, which would allow the licensing and regulation of cannabis lounges.
The next deadline is quickly approaching. By April 20, bills must’ve received a first vote on Nevada Assembly and Senate floors.
AB395, which converts death sentences to life-in-prison sentences without parole, moved on in a 9-to-6 vote along party lines, with all Republicans in the committee voting against.
AB286 would outlaw “ghost guns,” firearms that are often built at home and don’t have a serial number, unless the person is a licensed gun importer or manufacturer. The first offense would be punishable as a gross misdemeanor, while a second would become a felony.
Furthermore, the bill would criminalize the act of entering a business armed, where no guns are allowed. Business operators would be required to place signs that are 8 inches by 11 ½ inches in every entrance. An amendment would exempt on-duty officers.
Assemblyman Philip P.K. O’Neill, a Republican from Northern Nevada, noted that lawmakers weren’t allowed much time to look at the amendments. He said he “appreciates” parts of the proposal.
However, “To me, this is no way that we should be conducting business on such an important bill; such a serious bill … this is at the end of the day ... a Second Amendment right that can be lost due to part of this bill.”
Assemblyman Jim Wheeler, R-Minden, seconded his colleague. “I understand on deadline day things move quickly, but for a bill this important, I think the public should also be engaged, which of course isn’t happening here with this quickness going on.”
Committee Chair Assemblyman Steve Yeager, D-Las Vegas, denied to motion. “We are going to consider the bill now,” he said. “Truthfully, it’s not very much in terms of the amendment.”
A blood test would still be admissible in court when an alleged offender is facing DUI marijuana counts under AB400 for a conviction, but prosecutors would need to provide other evidence, such as field sobriety test results or evidence of driving behavior. A section in which the legislation would also apply to worker compensation claims was “decoupled” from the language. The bill moved on with a 9-to-6 vote along party lines.
AB425 also advanced.
The legislation, according to its proponents, aims to streamline the forfeiture process on certain drug cases in which law enforcement seize $5,000 or less. The forfeiture claims would be allowed to be made in the criminal court the suspects are being tried as opposed to a separate civil court hearing, where they would have to hire an attorney, and now be allowed a public defender.
The hundreds of bills that move on from Assembly and Senate committees can still be worked on, and they are subject to change through additional amendments.
