15 May Assembly Majority Leader Sandra Jauregui’s Gun Safety Bills Pass the Nevada State Senate
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 15, 2023
Contact: Amber Falgout, afalgout@battlebornprogress.
Assembly Majority Leader Sandra Jauregui’s Gun Safety Bills Pass the Nevada State Senate
Advocates are Energized by the Passage of Assembly Bill 354 and Assembly Bill 355 in the Senate and Hopeful that Governor Lombardo Signs These Common Sense Gun Violence Prevention Bills
CARSON CITY, NV – Today, the Senate passed AB354, which prohibits guns at polling locations, vote centers, election sites, ballot drop-off locations, and ballot tabulation areas. Additionally, AB354 clarifies language from the 81st Nevada Legislative Session defining the definition of frame or receiver and bringing the language up to date with current guidelines from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. Legislators voted 12 to 8 to pass the bill. AB354 will now move to Governor Lombardo’s desk for signage. Assembly Majority Leader Jauregui’s AB355 was also passed in the Nevada Senate 12 to 8. AB355 prohibits individuals under 21 years of age from owning and possessing certain assault weapons.
Annette Magnus, Executive Director, of Battle Born Progress, issued the following statement:
“We thank the Senate for passing AB354 and AB355 today and Assemblywoman Sandra Jauregui for bringing these gun safety measures forward. We are so proud of Assemblywoman Jauregui for using her experiences as a springboard for change within our communities. Each session, she continues working on legislation to help prevent gun violence and make our communities safer.
“AB354 is especially important because it will ensure our elections remain accessible and safe for voters. Intimidation at polling locations and vote centers is not a joking matter. We saw incidents in 2022 that were abhorrent, and we could not stand idly by waiting for more to happen in 2024. AB354 prohibits firearms within 100 ft. of polling locations, election sites, ballot drop-off boxes, and ballot tabulation areas. This distance mimics Nevada Electioneering Law. We already prohibit firearms in schools, banks, and government buildings. This legislation adds voting areas to that list. Additionally, AB354 clarifies language from our ghost gun bill in the previous session. This language fix aligns with the ATF’s current ghost gun rule and should alleviate the legal challenge to the law. An amendment to this portion of AB354 allows people with unserialized firearms to have more time to get them serialized, allows gun dealers to provide serialization services, and restores the definition currently being considered by the Supreme Court, clarifying the alternative definitions.
“AB355 helps us limit the purchase and possession of assault weapons for people under 21. While this bill includes an exemption for members of the Armed Forces of the United States and law enforcement employed by a federal, state, or local law enforcement agency, we feel this legislation is an important step toward keeping communities safe. Finally, we want to thank all survivors, partners, and advocates who supported both AB354 and AB355 throughout this process. We are happy to continue working on gun violence prevention as a core issue of our organizations. We look to Governor Lombardo to sign both AB354 and AB355 quickly so these bills can be implemented and keep Nevadans safe.”
Kris Brown, Brady, President issued the following statement:
“The Nevada State Senate’s decision to send AB354 and AB355 to the Governor’s desk marks a critical step forward for gun safety in Nevada. By prohibiting firearms at polling locations, strengthening ghost gun laws, and raising the age for the purchase and possession of assault weapons, both the Assembly and the Senate have sent a clear message: our democracy and our communities deserve to be protected from the threat of gun violence, and it’s time for the Governor to do the same. We applaud Assembly Majority Leader Sandra Jauregui and Battle Born Progress for their leadership on these bills, which will make Nevada a safer place to live, work, and vote. We hope to see the Governor take the same initiative.”
Agustin Cabrera, GIFFORDS State Legislative Manager:
“GIFFORDS extends our appreciation to the courageous leaders of the Nevada Senate for advancing these measures to prohibit firearms from polling places and raise the minimum age to purchase a firearm to 21. Both of these bills will undoubtedly make Nevada a safer place and we applaud the leadership and work of bill sponsor Assemblywoman Sandra Jauregui, and our state partners for their continued dedication to these important issues.”
“The passage of these bills sends a resounding message: protecting Nevadans from the threat of gun violence is a top priority,” said Jaime Spotleson Brousse, a volunteer with the Nevada chapter of Moms Demand Action. “These measures not only safeguard our democratic rights by ensuring that we can vote freely and safely but also raise the minimum age for purchasing semi-automatic firearms – because it’s clear that no teenager needs a military-style weapon. For too many Nevada families, gun violence has resulted in the unimaginable loss of a loved one. These bills represent a critical step forward in preventing future tragedies. We applaud our gun sense champions for their unwavering leadership, and we urge Governor Lombardo to swiftly sign these bills into law.”
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About Battle Born Progress: Battle Born Progress, through strategic communication efforts, empowers, engages, and mobilizes Nevada voters to build a state where everyone has a fair opportunity to succeed. We support, engage, and mobilize the progressive community through bold leadership, strategic communications, accountability, and education. We are on the cutting edge of new media and are the go-to source for progressive issues and advocacy for traditional media. Learn more at https://battlebornprogress.