AB 148 Opposed by Nevada Moms, Students, Educators, and Campus Police; Part of Fiore Agenda to Let Dangerous People Carry Hidden, Loaded Guns In Public in Nevada
The Nevada chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, and Nevada students and teachers today condemned the Assembly passage of AB 148, legislation sponsored by Assemblywoman Michele Fiore that would force Nevada colleges and universities to allow concealed, loaded weapons on campus.
The legislation is part of Fiore’s extreme agenda to make it legal for people with no firearm safety training, teenagers, violent criminals and convicted stalkers to carry hidden, loaded guns in public places throughout Nevada, including on college campuses. Numerous surveys indicate that key university stakeholder groups – including college students, faculty, administrators and campus police – overwhelmingly oppose guns on campus.
“It’s clear that Assemblywoman Fiore doesn’t care how students feel about being forced to choose between going to a school where students can carry concealed, loaded guns on campus or leaving the state,” said Samantha Burtch, a junior at UNLV. “But we’re the ones who will have to pay the price if the Nevada Legislature continues to follow Michele Fiore’s lead when it comes to our state’s gun laws.”
“Colleges in other states that have forced guns on campus have incurred millions of dollars in additional security and insurance costs,” said John Farley – UNLV Professor and President of the UNLV Chapter of the Nevada Faculty Alliance. “In addition to my deep concerns about my safety and the safety of my students, I absolutely cannot understand how the Assembly can justify forcing our hard-pressed colleges and universities to spend all that extra money on something that nobody wants.”
“The only people who should be carrying concealed weapons on our campuses are trained officers and security,” said Cassie Rice, a Las Vegas mother and volunteer with the Nevada chapter of Moms Demand Action. “I don’t feel safe knowing that our children won’t have an option to be free from weapons on Nevada campuses anymore if Michele Fiore has her way.”
The Presidents of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, the University of Nevada, Reno, Truckee Meadows Community College and the Associated Students of the University of Nevada have publicly opposed AB 148. As UNR President Marc Johnson told the Reno Gazette-Journal during debate on the bill last month, “They aren’t doing this for us… They are doing it to us.”
AB 148 now heads to the State Senate.
About Everytown for Gun Safety
Everytown is the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country with more than 2.5 million supporters and more than 40,000 donors including moms, mayors, survivors, and everyday Americans who are fighting for public safety measures that respect the Second Amendment and help save lives. At the core of Everytown are Mayors Against Illegal Guns and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a grassroots movement of American mothers founded the day after the Sandy Hook tragedy. Learn more at www.everytown.org and follow us @Everytown
About Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America
Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America is a grassroots movement of American mothers fighting for public safety measures that respect the Second Amendment and protect people from gun violence. Moms Demand Action campaigns for new and stronger solutions to lax gun laws and loopholes that jeopardize the safety of our children and families. Since its inception after the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Moms Demand Action has established a chapter in every state of the country and along with Mayors Against Illegal Guns is part of Everytown for Gun Safety, the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country with more than 2.5 million members and more than 40,000 donors. For more information or to get involved visit www.momsdemandaction.org. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MomsDemandAction or on Twitter at @MomsDemand