Bill would ban guns for people convicted of domestic abuse

CARSON CITY — Nevada state Sen. Debbie Smith said she'll introduce a bill this legislative session to keep guns away from people convicted of domestic violence, but it likely faces an uphill battle in the Republican-controlled Legislature.

The Sparks Democrat said Thursday that her bill would prohibit people from having a gun if they're subject to an extended restraining order for domestic violence, or if they've been convicted of a domestic violence or stalking crime.

"By toughening penalties and taking guns out of the hands of domestic abusers, we can protect women, particularly those who have faced abuse," Smith said in a statement.

The announcement comes on the heels of a report from the liberal think tank Center for American Progress that found women in Nevada are killed with guns at a much higher rate than the nation overall.

"For too long, we have failed to ensure that dangerous domestic abusers and stalkers do not have easy access to guns," said Annette Magnus, head of ProgressNow Nevada Action, which released the report along with the think tank. "Today, thanks to Senator Smith's leadership, all of that is about to change."

Out of the nearly 24,000 domestic violence incidents in 2013, around 700 involved a handgun or rifle, according to a report from the Nevada Department of Public Safety.

Currently, state law gives judges the option to prohibit a person from having a gun if a restraining order has been filed against them. Smith's bill would strengthen that requirement by making it mandatory.

About 1,300 extended restraining orders were issued statewide in 2013, according to a Department of Public Safety report.

But Republicans, many of whom campaigned on protecting gun rights, took control of both chambers of the Legislature in November and have the power to give the bill a hearing or let it die.

Nevada Firearms Coalition President Don Turner said he thinks current state law goes far enough, and that expanding gun restrictions isn't the most effective way to curb domestic violence.

"The real problem here is that the focus of these laws is on the gun," he said.

Groups promoting gun control measures, such as Everytown for Gun Safety, donated hundreds of thousands of dollars this past campaign cycle to the Nevada Democratic Party and Democratic candidates, including Smith.

Groups like Everytown, which is heavily funded by former New York City Michael Bloomberg, have a plan to bypass the Legislature should gun control measures founder: They've gathered enough signatures to put a gun purchase background check question on the 2016 ballot.

"Everytown for Gun Safety made political contributions and activated Nevadans to support candidates for public office who stand up for gun safety policies," said group spokeswoman Erika Soto Lamb. "Now we're pursuing the same strategy that worked in Washington State and taking background checks directly to voters via ballot initiative in 2016."