By Kelsey Givens
Sheriffs in all of the Silver State’s 17 counties released a letter to constituents this week explaining where they stand on the issue of gun control.
The sheriffs expressed in the letter they feel the best way to address gun violence is not necessarily by limiting magazine capacities or types of guns for purchase, but rather by addressing issues behind violence, such as mental illness, gangs and drugs.
The state’s sheriffs decided to meet early last week during a regularly scheduled meeting of the Nevada Sheriffs and Chiefs Association to talk in-depth about the issue.
“When sheriffs are asked, they’ll give their individual opinion, but we thought it was better to come together as a group and present a letter to our constituents as the 17 sheriffs of the State of Nevada,” Sheriff Tony DeMeo said. “Unlike the legislators we are the first responders to violence, we see it first-hand. I told the rest of the sheriffs we’re the first response to violence, we investigate violence, we know the root cause of the problem in our communities.”
Based on what was discussed during that meeting, the sheriffs came to a joint conclusion that the most effective way to prevent future gun-related tragedies, such as those at Sandy Hook Elementary School or the movie theater shooting spree in Aurora, Colo. last summer, is to address the issues that led the shooters in those incidents to commit such violent acts.
“In recent months, tragic events have occurred causing much discussion pertaining to firearms issues and the Second Amendment,” the letter reads. “While firearms will certainly be discussed as part of any conversation dealing with these events, other issues such as mental health, The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act HIPAA , illegal use of controlled substances, and criminal gang violence must be included as integral parts of these conversations.”
The letter goes on to state that one of the biggest issues that needs to be addressed is the fact that many of those deemed to be mentally ill, using controlled substances or involved in gang-related violence, have not been entered into the National Instant Criminal Background Check System — one of the first steps in keeping weapons out of the hands of those who may misuse them.
“This issue must be addressed at both the national, state and local levels. HIPAA must be amended to allow or even mandate reporting of the mentally ill by certain health care providers. Courts must ensure the entry of persons who have been adjudicated mentally ill or convicted of disqualifying crimes. Persons who have been validated as criminal gang members should be prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms. Local jurisdictions must make NlCS entry a top priority. Information systems must be utilized to their utmost potential,” the letter states.
DeMeo said getting help for those afflicted by mental illness and helping law enforcement agencies and gun dealers keep weapons out of the hands of those who may use them for ill will be a huge first step in preventing further gun-related violence.
“Guns are a tool people use, but the root cause of the issue is the violence,” DeMeo said. “How many times have you heard, ‘oh we have to do something about this because of a recent mass killing.’ And nothing is done. Finally there seems to be a national census that enough is enough. Well, let’s get it done right, instead of putting out these legislative pieces limiting the number of rounds in a magazine or telling people you can’t have this type of weapon. Because when people commit these offenses they have more than one weapon …But the fact of the matter is we want to address the violence issue. Making sure that people with mental health issues are identified, making sure that they get the help they need but also for law enforcement that they are prevented from going out and purchasing guns. At Virginia Tech, if his mental health status was able to be in a database, he never would have been able to buy those weapons.”
Although the Nevada sheriffs support reporting mentally ill patients and preventing certain people from purchasing firearms, the group did state in its letter the solution to the problem is not in removing or preventing law-abiding citizens from owning guns, but rather educating the public and addressing the issues that lead up to gun-related violence.
“The sheriffs of the State of Nevada do not believe that the answer to this issue includes making criminals out of otherwise law-abiding citizens. As the old saying goes, ‘When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns.’ The answer lies within a myriad of approaches including education, addressing violence, keeping firearms out of the hands of the mentally ill, criminal gang members, and illegal controlled substance users, as well as prosecuting and incarcerating those who use firearms to commit crimes,” the letter states.
By expressing their collective opinion on the subject, DeMeo said the group hopes it makes the voice of state law enforcement stronger when the letter is sent to state legislators, those representing the state in D.C. and even Vice President Joe Biden, as lawmakers consider how best to approach this topic.
“The Second Amendment is important to us, and we as sheriffs will uphold all that it stands for. We will work within the law and not succumb to perceived threats, rumor, false, or malicious information to weigh our decision making process,” the letter concludes. “We as Nevada sheriffs support The Right to Bear Arms, and we will do all within our power to uphold and defend its principles.”
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- Nye County Sheriff Tony DeMeo
Kudos for Sheriff DeMeo on this. Criminals using guns to perpetrate a crime need to be quickly tried and dealt with with STIFF penalties. Commit a murder, unappealable death sentence. No if’s and’s or but’s. Time has come to deal with firearm connected crimes and not more laws. Laws are in place. ENFORCE them.
Thank you Sheriff DeMeo. The most important guarantor of our constitutional liberties in Nye County is a Constitutional Sheriff. You’re the Man!
In spite of what others have said, Wayne LaPierre was spot on when he said, “The best way to stop a bad man with a gun, is a good man with a gun.”
I disagree. The best way is to make sure the bad man doesn’t get a gun in the first place. THIS is why 90% of gun owners support a background check. A background check is NOT infringing on the 2nd amendment in any way, shape or form.
Back ground checks may infringe on my right to privacy. However making it a crime for any one who owns a gun that has either had any felony conviction or is struggling with clinical depression is an absolute assault on the 2nd amendment. It is re-writing the constitution to mean that your rights are not God given irrevocable rights but rather government granted revocable privileges. Plus keeping guns from some does nothing to make any one safer. Example: Right now any one convicted of a felony that has not been expunged at any time in their life can not legally posses a fire arm. Thus, law abiding citizens with felonies do not have any fire arms, and have few effective options for self defense. However non-law abiding felons could careless if it is legal for them to have a fire arm or not they will get one any way and uses it however it benefits them most regardless of the law. To sum it up it is a placebo law that does nothing to keep any one safe and seriously damages the constitution by making our God given Rights Government Granted privileges. The same argument holds true for the mentally ill. Because an American Citizen is mentally ill it does not mean he is going to go on a shooting spree. Even the mentally ill should have the right to defend themselves. The Problem that needs to be addressed is something that the three shootings sighted in the article have in common, ie, “Sandy Hook Elementary School or the movie theater shooting spree in Aurora, Colo.” and later the Virginia Tech massacre is that all of the places are gun free zones. Had their been armed citizens their far fewer would have died and maybe no one at all.
A background check will not stop someone who should not have a gun from getting one. The guy in Connecticut got his from his mother after she failed to lock them up. Anyone intent on mayhem will find a way to get an instrument to cause that mayhem.
Also, I checked with a couple of gun shops here in Pahrump and in Las Vegas, they do not do background checks for anyone except for their customers. Even if I asked nicely and offered to pay, they don’t do checks for non-gun purchasers in their shop. So, where do we go for these background checks? How much will they cost?
Hey, I am in favor of universal background checks, but it doesn’t appear the mechanism to enact them are in place just now.
To;mrribbert, I guess your facts are correct ? Please ask the PVT to let you share any Govt fact’s Web Sites so you are not accused of Spamming! and wee they get there fact checsk from I want triple checks and from whom,documented by a Fed Judge !
The NRA says it is 90 % is not an actual fact as some put it.I am a NRA member and have not been polled by mail.
Now I have taken INTERNET polls even on NRA sites they are every were and not Govt based just Opinions and not leaglly Documented !remember that fact.
I do not Approve any Univeral back round checks is nothing but Bloomberg style nanny Govt controling and watching what Americans do is an Infringment! his soda pop restrictions was struck down as Obama gun laws will do the same !
Most Polls on Gun web Sites say NO to a UNIVERSAL Back round Check of any Kind and ask the UN to leave US Soil ! We have our Systems in place Does Germany or Russia or Saudi Arabia nead to Know ! all Transfers are documented like all merchandise in Shippments, now why let some Over seas Dictator Govt System know were we live ? It is Fed Govts Job to PROTECT OUR SOIL and watch all International and Intersate container movement not mine !
The legeslation Always begins at the State Level(Tenth Amendment)<READ IT , not Top Down Like the Obama Proud progressive Liberal Democrats and Now RHINOS want to Dictate law Not So ! why we have a Second Amendment !
The laws of the land are the US Constitution as our guide lines but we let this Govt get away way with more law is ludricrous and why I protect my self from any threat roaming the Soil of America, OUR HOME !
Most “bad guys” get their guns by stealing them. Background checks won’t help there.
Why is that every time I post something. What I have written is blocked and says duplicate comment?
Edit: I have no idea. We have several glitches with the website. I’ve forwarded your comment to IT in Las Vegas. – PVT
Opinions are a way to express against what public News papers say and I thank God the Press must go by the First Amendment! now think about this Put a restriction on the 1st the 4th and the 5th and our Personal wrights are gone !
Then Civil War?! We have the Educations and Civil Courts let us keep them !
There are over 2000 laws on the books across America The Old saying goes it is legal until you get caught and then most of us can’t keep up with them laws. why we have Courts and Enforcement to help us not dictate to US.
Thank You Tony, I have your back ! you may have to deputize some of us if Obama gets his way !
People we need to read more,less T.V. the Fed Library of law’s you will drive yourself Insane is Obtainable by the WWW ! I say get started by using NV Law web site then the US constitution and the Federalist Papers then you will re-think your Opinions ! busybuzy 2016 will be here before we know it !