Assembly Bill 355, a bill to prohibit those under 21 from handling or possessing a semiautomatic rifle or shotgun (even while hunting) is poised to destroy the firearm freedoms of law-abiding young Americans who shoot, hunt or defend themselves with a firearm. Current Nevada law allows exemptions for anyone over 14 handling rifles and shotguns in certain circumstances like hunting, but AB 355 strips this away and will ban many of the most common rifles and shotguns without promoting public safety in any meaningful way.
Many young Americans learn to shoot and hunt with modern semiautomatics, and it is the rare hunter that doesn’t hunt with such firearms at least in some situations. This is obviously true for law-abiding citizens under the age of 21 as well, and they should not be discriminated against simply based on age. This is gun control on hysterics, reminiscent of European gun control which often bans the use of semi-automatic firearms, and with no connection to the real world or reduction of violent crime as a plausible rationale for such a draconian move.
Moreover, Nevada legislators cannot truly believe that 18- to 20-year-old citizens have no firearm freedoms protected under the Constitution. In fact, just last week, a federal judge struck down a Minnesota law that restricted the firearm rights of those under 21 years of age, finding that the protections afforded to all citizens under the Second Amendment are equally enjoyed by those aged 18 to 20.
“My favorite duck gun is an old Benelli Super Black Eagle, and yes, my son used this firearm often when he was learning his way in the field,” said Dr. Todd Adkins, vice president of government affairs at the Sportsmen’s Alliance. “It is absurd to suggest that my son duck hunting with that particular firearm is something that should be banned as a public safety menace. You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Tomorrow, at 8 a.m., in room 3138, the Assembly Judiciary Committee is scheduled to hear AB 355. Please use our Take Action button below to email the members of the committee urging them to OPPOSE AB 355.
Don’t forget to share this message with your family, friends and fellow sportsmen and urge them to also take action and email the committee to OPPOSE AB 355.
About the Sportsmen’s Alliance: The Sportsmen’s Alliance protects and defends America’s wildlife conservation programs and the pursuits – hunting, fishing and trapping – that generate the money to pay for them. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation is responsible for public education, legal defense and research. Its mission is accomplished through several distinct programs coordinated to provide the most complete defense capability possible. Stay connected to Sportsmen’s Alliance: Online, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
