(Assemblyman John Ellison, R-33) – On Tuesday, August 28, starting at 9 a.m. the Advisory on Administration of Justice Interim Committee will hold a hearing on assault weapons in three locations: Carson City at 401 South Carson St., Room 3137 (Legislative Building); Las Vegas at 555 East Washington Ave., Room 4412 (Grant Sawyer State Office Building); and Elko, at 701 Walnut Street, Room 25 (University of Nevada School of Medicine, Griswold Hall with limited space). It will be the eighth item on the agenda.
This committee will address what they call assault weapons that might classify semi-automatic rifles into this category, which could include Mini 14, AR 15, M 1 Grand and others. This decision is based on what they think is an assault weapon because it is similar looking to the military version of an automatic weapon.
Here in Nevada many people use these weapons for recreational use for target shooting, hunting and self-protection. Also, many livestock owners carry them in their vehicle to keep predators from livestock based on the clip size, which means that they don’t have to carry boxes of shells or loose cartridges in their vehicles or pockets.
Is this the first bite of the apple to try and create gun control for Nevada and our citizens? Law-abiding citizens have a right to self protection, for their home and their families. Look at other states that have created similar laws and then look at the increase in crime rates of those states. The only ones with guns are the police and the criminals; do we want that for Nevada?
I encourage all citizens and residents of Nevada to check the NRA website on crime statistics involving guns, car crashes and other statistics. Guns don’t create the crime, it is the criminal behind the gun that creates the crime. That person could have used many other methods to create havoc.
In the last few months you have seen individuals that have created hideous crimes against the public, but if one licensed citizen was armed in that situation maybe they could have saved some precious lives.
I have been working this week with Carrie Herbertson of the National Rifle Association of America, State Liaison from Sacramento, Calif., and Danielle Kohler of Elko, who is the chairman of the Friends of NRA Elko Chapter, and Commissioner Charlie Myers, who are working tirelessly to inform the public of this hearing.
I encourage all citizens to please participate and voice your concern or to write Chairman William Horne at whorne@asm.state.nv.us or your local sheriff with your concerns.
We support education and gun safety to our youth and citizens alike, but I don’t support the taking of my 2nd Amendment right:
“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
Thank you. If you have any concerns or questions please feel free to contact me.
(This column originally appeared in the Elko Daily Free Press on August 25, 2012)
