The Nevada Legislature Building in Carson City on Tuesday, July 14, 2020.
Photo: David Calvert / The Nevada Independent
A bill to strengthen the ability of casinos to ban firearms narrowly passed the Senate on Wednesday.
With Sen. Dina Neal, D-North Las Vegas, joining Republicans in opposition, SB452 was approved 11-10.
Neal said she represents a majority-minority district where people are deeply concerned about over-policing and that the bill would put them in the position where they would not feel safe.
“Taking their hard thoughts, taking my legal thoughts, I came to a place where I would vote no,” she said.
Neal said her constituents felt the bill would lead to outcomes not favorable to them.
Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro, D-Las Vegas, said the bill is “in no way a stop and frisk” bill.
Technically, the bill allows casino officials to call law enforcement without first telling the customer they believe he or she is in possession of a weapon.
But opponents have argued when police arrive because a casino says someone who may have a gun refuses to leave, that’s the only way officers are going to know.
Sen. Ira Hansen, R-Sparks, said the bill will make going to a casino less safe. He said a large portion of guns reported stolen are stolen from vehicles and that this bill will force people to return to their car and put the gun in the glove box where crooks know to look.
Sen. Pat Spearman, D-Las Vegas, who had a nearly 30-year career in the military police, said she would vote for the bill but that she has to call on the vast majority of law enforcement officers who are honest and doing their jobs to drive out the bad cops. She said 98 percent of cops are good but that, “It’s that 2 percent that terrifies me.”
“They sully the badge. They also put a target on the backs of the other 98 percent who are just trying to do their jobs. We have a duty and obligation to clean up the ranks of that trash.”
SB452 goes to the Assembly.
