Lawmakers hear CCW testimony

CARSON CITY — The Assembly Committee on Judiciary heard testimony on Thursday on a bill that would allow concealed carry weapons (CCWs) in schools and airports.

The testimony centered on AB 148, which would allow concealed weapons on college campuses, K-12 schools, day care centers and airports. In three hours of testimony, both proponents and foes of concealed weapons on college campuses voiced their opinions. The committee did not have time to hear any additional testimony on the rest of the bill, however, although airport representatives who oppose the bill were in attendance.

Educators and several student groups oppose AB 148. Nevada Congresswoman Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, tweeted, “As prof emeritus at #UNLV I can tell you that our university and colleges are NO places for guns.”

This is the third time the Assembly committee has heard testimony on the bill.

Amanda Collins of Reno, who testified for the bill in 2011 and 2013, was raped in a parking garage on the University of Nevada, Reno campus in 2007.

“All I wanted was a chance to actively defend myself,” she told the committee. “I believe in empowering women with the choice to protect their bodies.”

Twenty-one Republicans support the bill, prompting Assemblywoman Michele Fiore, R-Las Vegas, to say the campus carry bill will pass when the vote comes up.

On the other side, though, campus police and faculty groups are opposed to AB 148. University officials said Nevada colleges have received only 19 applications for concealed weapons, most of those requested at the University of Nevada, Reno. Five were approved.