Bert Heyman

Here we are in another election cycle where the stakes are enormous. Never have we been so divided as a country as we are right now. Bipartisanship seems to be nonexistent, although I hold out hope that it will return. Our children’s and grandchildren’s future depend on us to hold our politicians to doing what they were elected to do to benefit the good of all and not just the few.

Here in Nevada, my number one concern is gun safety. In 2004, my son was murdered, and I now do what I can to limit not only senseless gun violence, but also the heartache that comes with it. No one wants to bury a child, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, cousin, mom or dad because of gun violence. As you can imagine, the pain is excruciating, and while it becomes manageable over time, it never completely goes away.

Gun violence takes many forms in our state, all of them tragic. More than half of suicides in Nevada are carried out with a gun. Last year, we also had the country's third-highest murder rate and the majority of those were gun deaths. Spousal abuse is also a big problem here, and we know that guns and domestic violence are a deadly combination. Furthermore an unsecured gun in the home is dangerous, especially to children.

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In 2016, the people of the great state of Nevada passed a law expanding our background check system to include all gun sales, with reasonable exceptions. Unfortunately, Attorney General Adam Laxalt has stated that he cannot enforce the new law as written — even though we passed it as voters. His office has fought in court against a lawsuit asking a judge to require enforcement of the new law.

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Adam Laxalt now wants to be our next governor, and the results of this race will have a direct impact on the future of gun safety laws in our state. Laxalt’s opponent, Steve Sisolak, strongly supports gun violence prevention legislation — including the background check law we passed in 2016. The contrast between him and Laxalt could not be clearer.

Across the state, up and down the ballot, we have the opportunity to support candidates who will work to prevent gun violence. Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America lists gun sense candidates by area, basing the distinction on a series of questions that the candidates answered explaining their views on gun safety and their commitment to protect all families from gun violence.

Here in Douglas County, I will be voting for gun sense champions Jacky Rosen for U.S. Senate, Clint Koble for Nevada CD-2, Steve Sisolak as our next governor, Kate Marshall for lieutenant governor, Aaron Ford for attorney general and Patricia Ackerman running for State Assembly District 39.

We need to make our voices heard and elect gun sense champions who will put the safety of our communities first. We need more than thoughts and prayers — we need action and elected officials committed to the enforcement of common-sense gun policies.

Bert Heyman is a volunteer with the Nevada chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and a resident of Minden.