Perhaps contradicting the slogan "What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas," Clark County, Nev., this week ended its mandatory handgun registration requirement.
Although Nevada passed firearms pre-emption in 1989, Clark County's handgun registration regime—enacted in 1948—survived by being grandfathered in. As a result, Clark County was the only part of Nevada requiring gun registration. Now, thanks to bipartisan legislation signed into law last week by Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval, that system is history.
"The State of Nevada has passed new laws which render null and void local ordinances/codes regulating the transfer, sale, possession, ownership, transportation, registration and licensing of firearms and ammunition," the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department announced Tuesday. "Therefore, effective immediately the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department will no longer enforce local ordinances/codes regarding handgun registration" and "will no longer register handguns."
