Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo didn’t tiptoe around gun rights this week.
While speaking at the 5th Annual Governors’ Forum during the SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Lombardo made it clear where he stands on the Second Amendment – and who he thinks is actually getting results.
“It’s important to recognize, our successes ahead will come from the right, the Republican Party, and the proof is in the pudding.” @JoeLombardoNV, at @nssf Governors’ Forum, on the fight for the future of Second Amendment rights. pic.twitter.com/N72LZVd1QK
— NSSF—The Firearm Industry Trade Association (@NSSF) January 21, 2026
The forum took place January 21 at the Venetian Expo and was hosted by the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
The conversation focused on the firearm industry’s economic impact, the future of gun rights, and how states can push back against the constant push for more gun control.
In other words, stuff that actually matters.
Lombardo was joined by a lineup of Republican governors, including Sarah Huckabee Sanders of Arkansas, Brad Little of Idaho, Greg Gianforte of Montana, Jim Pillen of Nebraska, Larry Rhoden of South Dakota, and Mark Gordon of Wyoming. The panel was moderated by political strategist Shermichael Singleton.
When the topic turned to leadership on the Second Amendment, Lombardo had no hesitation in sharing his thoughts.
In a quote shared by NSSF, he said, “It’s important to recognize, our successes ahead will come from the right, the Republican Party, and the proof is in the pudding.”
He said out loud what most gun owners already know: Promises are cheap. Results aren’t. And in his view, Republican-led states are the ones delivering.
For Nevadans, the SHOT Show isn’t just another convention. It’s one of the largest trade shows in the world and a major boost to the state’s economy.
It’s like the Super Bowl of the firearm and outdoor industry, except it comes to Las Vegas every year and fills hotels, restaurants, and taxis across the city.
After the panel, Lombardo followed up with a post on X.
“Pleased to join fellow governors at the @nssfshotshow panel to discuss the Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade Economy, which supports tens of thousands of Nevada jobs,” he wrote. “As governor, I’m committed to safeguarding constitutionally protected rights.”
Those jobs aren’t abstract numbers. They’re union workers building out the show floor, cab drivers picking up extra fares, and small business owners seeing more customers walk through the door.
This also isn’t new territory for Lombardo. In past NSSF forums, he’s made it clear Nevada will remain a welcoming home for the SHOT Show.
Critics have their opinions. Gun control advocates argue that large gun shows and pro-gun policies make communities less safe. They push for tighter laws and more restrictions, especially in deep blue states where those arguments get traction.
Lombardo and the other governors on the panel offered a different view. Responsible gun ownership is a constitutional right, and law-abiding citizens shouldn’t be punished for crimes they didn’t commit.
Nevada doesn’t have to choose between jobs, freedom, and the Constitution. And from where Lombardo sits, real leadership starts with saying that out loud and standing by it.
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