Group Gives Low Ranking to Nevada Based State's on Gun Laws - 8 News NOW

When it comes to state gun laws the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence gives Nevada a failing grade.

The law center, based in San Francisco, actually ranked 18 states worse than Nevada last year based on the extent to which they enacted laws intended to prevent gun violence. The center argues that "firearms are the only consumer product not regulated by a federal agency for health and safety."

The nonprofit organization gave Nevada kudos for a state law that requires individuals subject to a domestic violence protective order to either surrender their firearms to law enforcement or sell or transfer those weapons to someone else. Nevada also was cited for submitting mental health records to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. The organization also supports a provision that allows the Nevada Department of Public Safety to conduct background checks for a firearm transfer between private parties if the seller requests one for a prospective purchaser.

But the organization criticized Nevada for lacking the following state laws:

• A required background check prior to the transfer of a firearm between private parties.
• A ban against the transfer or possession of assault weapons, .50-caliber rifles or large capacity ammunition magazines.
• Licensing of firearm owners.
• Required registration of all firearms.
• Limitation on the number of firearms that can be purchased at one time.
• A waiting period on firearm purchases.
• Regulation of unsafe handguns.

Clark County has an ordinance that requires residents to register pistols with Metro Police within 72 hours of receipt. But that only applies to guns that can be concealed and can be aimed and fired with one hand.