If you thought Assembly Bill 245 (AB245) was bad before, buckle up, folks – it’s even worse than we were first told.
It’s blatantly unconstitutional.
This bill doesn’t just ban young adults under 21 from buying semiautomatic rifles and shotguns.
It goes much further, creating harsh new penalties, criminalizing storage, possession, and even accidental access by responsible adults and families.
In short? AB245 is a dangerous overreach that would criminalize parents, punish responsible young people, and treat law-abiding gun owners like felons.
And yet, the Senate Judiciary Committee pushed it forward on a party-line 5-3 vote this week.
Now it’s headed for a full Senate vote before the May 23 deadline.
What’s Actually in AB245?
Let’s break this down in plain language, because AB245 isn’t just about “keeping guns away from criminals.”
It’s about criminalizing everyday Nevadans. Take a look…
Bans 18- to 20-year-olds from owning or possessing semiautomatic shotguns or centerfire rifles.
Even if they already lawfully own them now, they would instantly become criminals under this bill unless they fit into narrow government-approved exceptions like military, law enforcement, or certain hunting situations.
Makes it a gross misdemeanor for any young adult to even handle these guns, with severe penalties for parents or anyone who “permits” them to do so – even at home.
Turns responsible gun owners into criminals if a young adult under 21 accesses a semiautomatic firearm, even if it was locked away but not to the state’s satisfaction.
If an 18-year-old roommate or family member gets hold of the gun, you could face felony charges and prison time.
Mandates that firearms at home, even in rural Nevada, be locked up under strict conditions, stripping families of their ability to decide how to secure their own property.
Creates harsh felony penalties (up to 6 years in prison and a $5,000 fine) for anyone who sells or even barters a semiautomatic shotgun or rifle to anyone under 21, regardless of the circumstances.
This bill is sweeping, extreme, and punishes law-abiding citizens far more than actual criminals.
Why Gun Rights Supporters Are Sounding the Alarm
Let’s get real here. AB245 won’t stop criminals. Criminals don’t follow gun laws.
This law isn’t about stopping crime. It’s about making it harder for responsible citizens to exercise their rights.
But what it would do is make felons out of law-abiding young people, their parents, and even hunting guides or instructors who mistakenly step outside the narrow exceptions allowed under this bill.
Under AB245, an 18-year-old rancher protecting livestock, a single mom’s 20-year-old son guarding the family farm, or a young woman living alone in a rural town would all be banned from owning the very firearms best suited for defense, hunting, or predator control.
Supporters of AB245, like Assemblywoman Sandra Jauregui, claim it’s about “keeping guns out of the wrong hands.”
But the FBI’s own crime data shows most gun crimes are committed by adults over 21 – not the responsible young adults this bill targets.
In fact, according to the Crime Prevention Research Center, young adults are among the least likely to commit mass shootings.
AB245 ignores these facts and goes for a political win over actual safety while catering to the gun control lobby, who will reward the politicians pushing the bill with campaign donations. .
Making Nevada Families Criminals in Their Own Homes
This bill even criminalizes how you store your guns at home.
Under AB245, if you have a securely locked firearm but the state thinks it wasn’t “locked enough” and someone under 21 accesses it? You could face jail time, fines, and a felony record.
It’s nanny-state micromanagement at its worst.
Families should decide how to protect themselves and their property – not bureaucrats in Carson City.
A Line in the Sand
Thankfully, Governor Joe Lombardo vetoed a similar bill last session, calling it government overreach.
But if the bill passes – which it will because the Legislature is controlled by anti-gun rights Democrats – responsible gun owners will need him to do it again.
If you care about the Second Amendment, personal freedom, and stopping politicians from treating law-abiding families like criminals, now’s the time to speak up.
Contact your state senator – where the bill is currently being considered.
Remind them that in Nevada we don’t believe the Constitution or the Second Amendment come with fine print or age loopholes.
We trust families. We trust responsible young adults.
We don’t trust politicians who use tragedies to score political points at the expense of our rights.
This is the kind of thing we remember in November.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
