55°F
weather icon Mostly Clear

Domestic violence activists restate support of expanded firearm background checks

Nevada advocates against domestic violence on Wednesday reaffirmed their support for Question 1, a ballot initiative proposing to expand firearm background checks to private-party sales and transfers.

Survivors and activists gathered at the Henderson women’s shelter Safe House to discuss the ballot measure, which Nevada voters will decide in November, and the prevalence of domestic violence in the state.

For the period from 2010 to 2014, Nevada ranked fifth nationally in the number of women killed by an intimate partner, according to a study released this year by Everytown for Gun Safety and the Nevada Network Against Domestic Violence. During the years covered by the study, there were 6.6 domestic violence gun homicides for every million Nevada women, compared with four nationally.

Rosa Parra came to Safe House after her husband attacked her with a machete, she said.

“As soon as we got married, everything changed,” Parra said. “He told me ‘I’m going to kill you,’ and I believed him.”

By the time she left her husband, he had beaten her, choked her, tried to poison her twice and firebombed her apartment, she said.

“I believe that if I would’ve stayed, he would’ve killed me,” she said. “All he needed was a gun. He tried everything else.”

Nevada law prevents people convicted of domestic violence from passing a firearm background check. Domestic violence advocates believe expanding the background system would save lives.

Nevadans for Background Checks, the group campaigning to pass Question 1, has said the number of women fatally shot by an intimate partner dropped by 46 percent in states that passed universal background check measures.

“We can’t prevent every tragedy,” Safe House Executive Director Julie Proctor said, “(but) passing Question 1 will save lives.”

Gun-rights advocates maintain that Question 1 would only criminalize the normal behaviors by law-abiding gun owners and would not stop criminals from obtaining guns. The National Rifle Association on Tuesday opened its Las Vegas office for the Nevadans for Freedom campaign to fight the ballot measure.

Proctor said if the proposed law leads to even a few lives being saved, it would be worth it.

Contact Wesley Juhl at wjuhl@reviewjournal.com. Find @WesJuhl on Twitter.

Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.
THE LATEST
Beatty Clinic gets tons of help with new a/c

BEATTY — The Beatty Foundation, an affiliate of AngloGold-Ashanti (AGA), did tons of good at the Beatty Clinic on March 22. Nine tons, exactly.

11th Annual Chili Cook-Off brings tempting tastings and festival fun

The 11th Annual International Chili Society and Silver State Chili Cook-Off took over Petrack Park this past weekend for three days filled with savory tastings, fun and activities and of course, some intense culinary competition.

Pahrump homeschoolers dance the night away

Pahrump Valley’s homeschool youth were whisked away into the Enchanted Forest this month, with local Moose Lodge #808 hosting a night of dancing and revelry in honor of an age-old adolescent right-of-passage, prom.

Looking for some family fun for Easter? Hop over to Simkins Park

Anyone looking for a fun, family-friendly festivity to enjoy this holiday can hop on over to Simkins Park to join the Mills family as they celebrate Easter Sunday with worship music, free food and an enormous 14,000-egg hunt that is sure to bring a smile to hundreds of faces.

Campground fees to increase at Death Valley National Park

DEATH VALLEY, Calif. — Visitors to Death Valley National Park can expect a slight increase in entrance fees for various campgrounds beginning on May 1.

Clerk staffer Cori Freidhof appointed interim leader

Nye County Clerk Mark Kampf’s time in office officially comes to a close on March 31 and deputy clerk Cori Freidhof has now been selected to assume that vacated seat. Freidhof will take over the office as of Monday, April 1 and fulfill the unexpired term ending Jan. 1, 2027.

Gaming can have impact on us

When does gaming cross the line from recreational relaxation to problematic behavior? How do video games and gambling relate? What resources are available for those who find themselves struggling to control their relationship with video games and gambling?

County eyeing impact fee increases

The cost to develop in Pahrump could go up, with a public hearing on a proposal to raise local impact fees set for next month.

Here’s who filed as political candidates in Nye County

Locals have filed their political candidacy as of March 15 and this year two major offices in Nye County will be up for grabs in the general election. Nye County residents have to first narrow down their preferred party candidate on June 11 in the primary and then vote in November to support their preferred candidates.