by Joseph P. Tartaro | Executive Editor
Joe Tartaro, Executive Editor
The universal background check scheme, like the one voters accepted in Washington State in November, is creeping closer in other states, particularly in Nevada, and to a lesser degree in Arizona.
In Nevada, Secretary of State Ross Miller said in early December, that petitions seeking to expand background check requirements for gun purchases and to allow the recreational use of marijuana were sufficient to move to the next step, consideration by the 2015 state Legislature. If lawmakers do not enact the initiative petitions, the measures will go to the voters in 2016.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that a review of the signatures of registered voters for the background check initiative showed more than 40,000 signatures in each of the four Congressional districts. Just over 25,000 valid signatures were needed in each district. Signatures totaled 166,779, a total of 101,667 valid signatures from registered Nevada voters were needed to qualify.
However, Nevadans for State Gun Rights (NSGR) issued a challenging statement on the background check initiative’s certification by the secretary of state after it had filed a formal complaint of improprieties.
“In disregard of a formal complaint documenting violations of Nevada state laws and administrative codes in the ‘universal background check’ initiative, Nevada Secretary of State Ross Miller released a ‘notice of sufficiency of petition’ on December 8, 2014,” the pro-gun group said. “The Nevadans for State Gun Rights PAC is analyzing the ballot initiatives in 11 of the state’s 17 counties. Initial results of this analysis have shown irregularities and violations of Nevada state laws and Secretary of State Administrative Codes regarding the ballot initiative.
“Official records from two counties certified by the Secretary of State show that the initiative petitions were submitted after the statutory deadline, signature pages were not in compliance with the law and that notarized statements regarding the truth of the signatures were notarized before some of the signatures were obtained. In spite of a detailed complaint filed with the Secretary of State’s office, no response has been made to the complaint, and the two counties who received notifications in violation of state law were included in the certification document as being acceptable.
“If the Secretary of State cannot comply with his own laws and rules, the petition validation process is seriously flawed and the results and certification are invalid. The Nevadans for State Gun Rights PAC will continue to file these complaints with public officials until the law is followed. The state cannot be allowed to violate its own laws and regulations,” NSGR concluded.
This initiative was filed with the Secretary of State by the anti-gun “Nevadans for Background Checks,” likely affiliated with ex-New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s “Everytown for Gun Safety” and seeks to criminalize most private transfers and mandate background checks for nearly all gun transfers in Nevada, with very limited exceptions.
NSGR also said of the initiative, “This incredibly overreaching proposal is substantially similar to legislation considered last year, which was staunchly opposed by the NRA and Second Amendment supporters, as well as the Nevada Sheriff’s and Chief’s Association, which testified against it. Ultimately, the 2013 legislation was vetoed by Gov. Brian Sandoval (R).
“This is just another attempt by anti-gun extremists to impose their radical beliefs on law-abiding gun owners in Nevada. So-called ‘universal’ background checks are ineffective and unenforceable. They turn traditional innocent conduct into a criminal offense, and are simply ignored and circumvented by criminals,” NSGR concluded.
Meanwhile, TGM has received reports that the anti-gunners are already gauging voter sentiment for a similar initiative mandating background checks. Some readers have reported being polled by the Luce organization of Colorado, a firm that specializes in political polling and strategy development. So far, however, there is no indication that a signature drive or petition is in progress in Arizona.
