LAS VEGAS -- Gun rights advocates held a form of a victory rally to celebrate a new concealed weapons law signed by Nevada Governor Sandoval. Their next target is repealing Clark County's requirement for gun owners to register their weapons with local police.
The sounds of gunfire ring out inside Discount Firearms and Ammo's gun range. But the sounds that bring the most attention here are outside the range, at a rally held by the citizen's committee on the right to keep and bear arms.
"There are laws in Congress trying to ban a lot of semi-automatic firearms by type of cosmetic characteristics that we can't support. A lot of laws make it difficult for people to get firearms. Different types of permit systems and hoops that are a problem to jump through," said Alan Gottlieb, Second Amendment Foundation.
Gun control advocates say federal legislation is needed to solve a patchwork of state laws with dangerous loopholes.
"Someone can walk into a gun show today in Nevada and in other states and purchase a high powered military assault weapon and assault rifles from an unlicensed dealer," said Brian Malte, Brady Campaign.
In a dark room, gun owners celebrated Nevada's legislature passing AB143. It makes it easier to get concealed weapons permits for multiple guns. But a bill allowing concealed weapons on college campuses died in committee. Only Clark County and Washoe County require gun owners to register their firearms with local police. Local gun owners want to repeal that requirement.
"Knocking on the door of a law abiding citizen, they don't need to know that the person there owns a gun," said Dan Schott, Discount Firearms and Ammo.
"If records are retained on firearms, especially handguns, then they have the ability to apprehend armed criminals and solve gun crimes and we want to help law enforcement do that," said Malte.
Both sides point out conflicting numbers. The Second Amendment Foundation claims guns are used more than 2,000 times a day nationwide in self-defense. But federal figures show more than 12,000 people nationwide are murdered by guns every year.
