This Session Nevada Moms Demand Action Volunteers Have Taken Nearly 800 Digital Actions to Contact Their Lawmakers for the Passage of Gun Safety Measures
CARSON CITY, Nev. – Nevada Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots network, issued the following statement after the Senate voted to pass AB 354 and AB 355. The measures prohibit guns at and around polling places and raise the age to possess semiautomatic firearms to 21. Both measures now go to Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo’s desk.
“The passage of these bills sends a resounding message: protecting Nevadans from the threat of gun violence is a top priority,” said Jaime Spotleson Brousse, a volunteer with the Nevada chapter of Moms Demand Action. “These measures not only safeguard our democratic rights by ensuring that we can vote freely and safely, but also raise the minimum age for purchasing semi-automatic firearms – because it’s clear that no teenager needs a military-style weapon. For too many Nevada families, gun violence has resulted in the unimaginable loss of a loved one. These bills represent a critical step forward in preventing future tragedies. We applaud our gun sense champions for their unwavering leadership, and we urge Governor Lombardo to swiftly sign these bills into law.”
Today’s vote comes as Senate lawmakers recently passed SB 171, legislation which seeks to prohibit the purchase, possession or ownership of a firearm by a person who has been convicted of committing or attempting to commit a hate crime. The measures passed today are important to continue Nevada’s commitment to tackling gun violence at its core. In recent years lawmakers have implemented background checks for all firearm sales, Extreme Risk laws, and prohibition of bump stocks and other devices.
In an average year, 555 people die by guns in Nevada. With a rate of 17.5 deaths per 100,000 people, the state has the 16th-highest rate of gun deaths in the US. Each year, gun violence costs Nevada $6.7 billion, of which $104.3 million is paid by taxpayers. More information on gun violence in Nevada is available here. To speak to a local volunteer with Moms Demand Action, a volunteer with Students Demand Action, or a policy expert, please reach out to [email protected].