Nevada GOP Pushes New Gun Law Reminiscent Of ‘Stand Your Ground’

WASHINGTON — A Nevada state Senate committee considered a controversial package of gun-rights provisions on Wednesday, just a day before the third anniversary of Trayvon Martin’s death.

The Nevada legislation includes a provision that would allow people who feel threatened in their cars to defend themselves using deadly force; a provision that would grant immunity from civil lawsuits when a shooting is ruled justified; and a provision that would allow people with a concealed weapon permit from any state to carry their weapon in Nevada for up to 60 days. It also includes a provision that would make it illegal for anyone convicted of domestic violence to own a gun.

Critics say the first provision would expand the scope of the state’s “stand your ground” law. Republican Senate Majority Leader Michael Roberson, the bill’s sponsor, rejected that characterization during a state Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Wednesday, saying that the provision merely clarifies existing “castle doctrine,” under which a person has no obligation to retreat before using deadly force if a conflict takes place in their home.

“That’s been the modus operandi for the Senate Republicans in this building. They’ve done this before,” he said. “They defiled the protections, the concepts, and included all these controversial, right-wing gun-related issues that run the risk of defeating the bill.”

Republicans took control of the Nevada legislature in last year’s midterm elections, giving the party the ability to immediately initiate legislative action on gun rights and voter identification, among other issues.

The Huffington Post