HomePoliticsNEVADA PROSECUTED “ZERO” VIOLENT FELONS WHO TRIED TO BUY GUNS IN 2020 & 2019 Politics NEVADA PROSECUTED “ZERO” VIOLENT FELONS WHO TRIED TO BUY GUNS IN 2020 & 2018 Rob Lauer Political Reporter In 2019, the Democrat controlled legislature and NV Governor Sisolak signed a new background check law requiring private party purchases to process their transaction through a Nevada Licensed gun store. The process includes obtaining a background check from the State of Nevada, Department of Public Safety. According to Nevada Revised Statute: ATTEMPT TO OWN/POSSES A GUN BY PROHIBIT PERSON IS A FELONY NRS 202.360.1. Even the attempt by a convicted felon to purchase a firearm from a gun store is a violation of state and federal laws, according to criminal defense and firearms lawyer Don Greene. The State of Nevada, Department of Public Safety conducts background checks for every firearm purchased or attempted purchase through a gun store in the State of Nevada. In Nevada, when a person walks into a gun store and attempts to purchase a firearm, the Federal Firearms Licensed Dealer (FFL) requires the purchaser to fill out an Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) form #4473. The FFL then calls the Nevada Department of Public Safety Firearms background check (records) division who either approves or denies the purchase after running a detailed background check. But when convicted felons attempted to purchase firearms from gun stores, according to the Department of Public Safety, there was zero follow-up and zero referrals to local and or state law enforcement agencies to arrest the convicted felons. But even without such referrals, the information is readily available to every law enforcement agency, including the Nevada Attorney General’s Office. County District Attorneys across the state have charged felons with illegal possession of a firearm, but not attempting to purchase one. It’s a pretty easy slam dunk criminal case, considering they have the felon’s own hand-written application with his/her signature on it. 2020 Total number of background checks DPS conducted for firearms purchases in 2020 –185,629 Total number of denied background checks in 2020 –3,329 2019 Total number of background checks DPS conducted for firearms purchases in 2019 – 102,096 Total number of denied background checks in 2019 –1,622 According to one gun store owner we spoke with, “Convicted Felons try to buy a gun from a store all the time thinking their record is old or in another state and they might slip through.” 360 News Las Vegas sent the Nevada Department of Public Safety Firearms Background Check Division the following request: . What is the procedure the Nevada Department of Safety firearms background check (records) division uses when a convicted felon attempts to purchase a firearm at a gun store and is denied by your office? Do they forward the attempt to any law enforcement agencies? . NV Department of Public Safety public records division responded this week stating: . Answer: “When staff denies a firearms transaction for a conviction under Title 18 United States Code § 922(g)(1), staff enters a reason code into our Point of Contact system indicating “Conviction with jail time over 1 year or misdemeanor conviction with jail time over 2 yrs.” This information goes to the FBI’s system, the NICS Indices, to show why the subject was denied. The staff does not notify law enforcement of the attempted purchase as there is no federal or state requirement to do so. “ The revelation that our government is not pursuing convicted felons who attempt to purchase a firearm here in Nevada is shocking and demands action from our state lawmakers. Answer: “Staff does not notify law enforcement of the attempted purchase as there is no federal or state requirement to do so.” Sigal Chattah, (R) Candidate for Nevada Attorney General told 360 News Las Vegas: “For decades Democrats in Nevada have perpetuated the fallacy that more gun control laws are necessary while utterly failing to enforce the laws in existence. I’ve repeatedly stated over the past few years that mandatory minimums for felons in possession of a firearm is a necessity to curbing violent crimes in addition to the basic prosecution of prohibited possessors who continue to Lie on their 4473 forms and on CCW applications. While Aaron Ford’s narrative mirrors the left’s agenda on the 2nd amendment, he has been a complete failure in ensuring prosecution of offenders of gun laws in Nevada.”
