 All photos courtesy Christopher Higsen Apparently, the people who make the signs for the city of Las Vegas Parks and Rec must have gotten a little excited that AB 291 (that was Sandra Jauregui’s kitchen-sink gun control bill) would repeal preemption and put up a new sign proclaiming that firearms are prohibited in city parks. Second Amendment activist Christopher Higsen found the pictured new signs at Bob Baskin park in Las Vegas. These state that “Fireworks, firearms, or weapons of any kind” are prohibited. In fact, under state law, they are not. The city isn’t even supposed to have an ordinance of that kind on the books. Municipal code section 13.36.020 prohibits firearms and weapons, except the possession of firearms that is otherwise permitted by State law; or the possession of a concealed weapon by a person who holds a valid permit to do. State preemption says that they can't even have a municode about firearms possession but the section dates from 2012 and essentially says that what the state says is legal is legal, so this section is moot. Now I don’t actually believe someone was getting hopeful that the city could ban you from exercising your constitutional right to bear arms in a public park. Never attribute to malice what is adequately explained by incompetence (also known as Hanlon’s Razor). I’d bet someone just reused a pre-2015 (or 2012, depending on you look at it) sign or just recycled old text because no one actually reads that stuff anyway. Clark County Parks actually went out with green tape and covered up the “firearms” line on its signs in June of 2015, for what it’s worth. We need remind the powers that be that they can’t get lazy and post signs like this. Some dumb schmuck who can’t Google might read the sign and decide not to carry, putting themselves in danger. We also can’t allow the government to get away with incompetence or, though it’s unlikely, deception. We must also remind our elected officials that preemption is important to us. These signs need to be fixed. If you live or work in the city of Las Vegas, I recommend you reach out to your councilmember and alert them to the issue. Preemption of local firearm laws is essential to maintaining strong gun rights in Nevada even if billionaires buy legislators’ votes. Pushing back on little “mistakes” like this help preserve liberty and erodes petty tyranny by serving as ever-vigilant watchmen. So check your local parks rules signs. Remember, only the law abiding read signs. The gangbangers, druggies, and local jerks don’t read or care about them. Signs don’t prevent violence; only good men with guns can stop a gunman. |
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