CARSON CITY — Republican lawmakers introduced a multipronged bill Wednesday that would restrict people convicted of domestic violence from having a gun, but would also expand concealed-carry laws and broaden the definition of justifiable homicide.
SB175, which is sponsored by several Republican senators and Assembly members, carries domestic-violence provisions similar to ones that Democratic Sen. Debbie Smith previously said she would champion during the legislative session. But Democrats objected to one difference: While Smith’s bill would have prevented people under an extended restraining order from having or purchasing a gun, the Republican bill would only prevent those people from purchasing a gun.
Republican Senate Majority Leader Michael Roberson had “hijacked Sen. Debbie Smith’s bill and weakened critical provisions to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers and stalkers,” the Nevada Democratic Party said in a statement.
Roberson said that he’d been working on the bill concept since September, when he was campaigning.
Asked whether he would support the domestic-violence portion of the bill without the other provisions, Roberson said: “It’s all in one bill, I support the bill, and many others support the bill.”
Aside from the domestic-violence provisions, the bill would change the law so Nevada recognizes concealed-weapon permits from other states. Existing law only recognizes out-of-state concealed weapon permits if the other state has equal or more stringent requirements for permit holders compared with Nevada.
Republican Sen. James Settelmeyer said law enforcement officials support the idea because they’re tired of tracking other states’ Legislatures to determine whether laws have been loosened.
The bill would also change the definition of justifiable homicide, potentially clearing people who kill someone who’s defending a vehicle or who’s trying to stop someone from hurting someone inside a vehicle.
Democrats didn’t comment on the specifics of the bill immediately after it was introduced, but they said they wouldn’t be shocked if it contained some objectionable provisions along with ones they liked.
“We’ve seen that precedent set already this season with the prevailing wage dumped into the bipartisan school bond rollover bill,” Democratic Sen. Aaron Ford said. “That wouldn’t surprise me.”
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Associated Press writer Riley Snyder contributed to this report.
