Las Vegas Sun
Backers of an initiative petition requiring background checks for gun
purchases in Nevada won a court victory Friday and a spokesman said the
group is ready to start gathering signatures.
District
Judge James Wilson ordered a minor rewrite of the initiative, striking
down most of the arguments of those who said the 200-word description of
the petition was misleading.
Matt Griffin, attorney for Nevadans
for Background Checks, said he was pleased with the decision, which
will allow his clients to begin gathering the required 101,667
signatures to qualify the initiative.
Rew Goodenow, an attorney
representing a pro-firearms group, said he did not think there would be
an appeal to the Nevada Supreme Court at this stage but he wants to talk
to his clients before deciding on future legal strategy.
The
current law requires a person who buys a gun from a licensed seller to
undergo a background check. The initiative would require a background
check in purchases from an unlicensed dealer.
The petition says
the law makes it easier for felons, domestic abusers and other dangerous
persons to buy a weapon without a background check.
The
background check would not be required in the transfer of firearms
between family members, for those using the gun while hunting and
trapping and who have valid licenses for this activity.
