Nevada State Law Summary

Posted on January 1, 2012

Last updated March 6, 2012

In our publication Gun Laws Matter 2012: Understanding the Link Between Weak Laws and Gun Violence, the Law Center ranked each state based on a review of state laws in 29 different firearms-related policy areas. Nevada ranked 32nd out of 50 – having enacted few gun violence prevention laws. Among other things, Nevada:

Requires that persons subject to a domestic violence protective order surrender to law enforcement, sell or transfer any firearm in that person’s possession, custody or control;
Submits a variety of mental health records to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System for use in firearm purchaser checks; and
Provides that the Nevada Department of Public Safety may conduct a background check for a firearm transfer between private parties if a private seller so requests it for a prospective purchaser.

Nevada does not, however:

Require a background check prior to the transfer of a firearm between private parties;
Prohibit the transfer or possession of assault weapons, 50 caliber rifles or large capacity ammunition magazines;
License firearm owners;
Require the registration of firearms;
Limit the number of firearms that may be purchased at one time;
Impose a waiting period on firearm purchases; or
Regulate unsafe handguns.

Local governments in Nevada generally lack authority to regulate firearms and ammunition, and Nevada requires local law enforcement to issue a concealed handgun license to any applicant who meets certain basic qualifications.

Nevada ranks 5th among the states in number of gun deaths per capita. In 2009, 406 people died from firearm-related injuries in Nevada. That year, Nevada supplied the 9th highest number of crime guns to other states per capita, and the state exports more crime guns than it imports.