October 2, 2017
Callum Paton
Posted with permission from Newsweek
Nevada has some of the most-relaxed gun laws in the country, a legislative condition that is sure to come under renewed scrutiny n the wake of the worst mass shooting in U.S. history on Sunday night in Las Vegas.
Anti-gun activists did score a narrow victory last year by passing Question 1, a resolution calling for background checks through a licensed gun dealer for all sales in the state, even private and online sales.
Related: Route 91: Country Music Festival Attacked in Las Vegas
Initial reports on social media appear to have shown that lone-wolf shooter Stephen Paddock used a high-caliber automatic weapon in the the Las Vegas shooting. In footage shared of the attack scores of rounds of ammunition can be heard going off in a matter of seconds.
Such weapons were previously prohibited under the 1994 Federal Assault Weapons Ban which expired in 2004. Several lawmakers have attempted to renew the ban, coming closest, but still failing, after the Newtown school shooting in 2012.
The Coalition to Stop Gun violence has said it is “no surprise” that perpetrators of mass shootings favor such weapons. “Assault weapons are designed to maximize lethality; they are intended to kill as many humans as possible as quickly as possible,” the anti-gun group said.
The gun lobby has been deeply critical of new laws in Nevada enforcing the background checks, legislation supported by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The Question 1 initiative is the subject of legal challenges and it is unclear who would carry out the checks.
Nevada has carried out these checks since 1998. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal the FBI, which the new legislation said would carry out the checks, has declined to do so because they are not federally mandated.
Callum Paton
Posted with permission from Newsweek
Nevada has some of the most-relaxed gun laws in the country, a legislative condition that is sure to come under renewed scrutiny n the wake of the worst mass shooting in U.S. history on Sunday night in Las Vegas.
Nevada does not prohibit the transfer or possession of assault weapons, 50 caliber rifles or large capacity ammunition magazines. Local law enforcement issues concealed handgun licenses. Open carry is legal without a permit.
Anti-gun activists did score a narrow victory last year by passing Question 1, a resolution calling for background checks through a licensed gun dealer for all sales in the state, even private and online sales.
Related: Route 91: Country Music Festival Attacked in Las Vegas
Initial reports on social media appear to have shown that lone-wolf shooter Stephen Paddock used a high-caliber automatic weapon in the the Las Vegas shooting. In footage shared of the attack scores of rounds of ammunition can be heard going off in a matter of seconds.
Such weapons were previously prohibited under the 1994 Federal Assault Weapons Ban which expired in 2004. Several lawmakers have attempted to renew the ban, coming closest, but still failing, after the Newtown school shooting in 2012.
The Coalition to Stop Gun violence has said it is “no surprise” that perpetrators of mass shootings favor such weapons. “Assault weapons are designed to maximize lethality; they are intended to kill as many humans as possible as quickly as possible,” the anti-gun group said.
The gun lobby has been deeply critical of new laws in Nevada enforcing the background checks, legislation supported by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The Question 1 initiative is the subject of legal challenges and it is unclear who would carry out the checks.
Nevada has carried out these checks since 1998. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal the FBI, which the new legislation said would carry out the checks, has declined to do so because they are not federally mandated.
