Gun enthusiasts shred blue cards in North Las Vegas
A sense of triumph overpowered the scent of rain in the wind for the hundreds of Second Amendment enthusiasts gathered at a North Las Vegas gun shop on Saturday.
A decades-old handgun Clark County registration program was shot down by the Nevada Legislature earlier this summer.
Those who gathered celebrated the program‘s demise at a community barbecue and blue card shredding party at the New Frontier Armory, 150 E. Centennial Parkway, near North Fifth Street.
Nevada Firearms Coalition President Don Turner said about 250 people came, including many families, and they were happy to celebrate the end of the program.
"A lot of people were taking pictures as they shred their blue cards," he said, adding that the 3-foot-tall shredder people used was probably filled.
After shredding their registration cards, people were entered into a drawing to win of 100 raffle prizes. A Road Kill Grill food truck catered the event and about 20 vendors braved an impending summer storm and set up booths and tents.
"It looks like Mother Nature was against us, but we had a pretty good turnout," Turner said.
By 1:30 p.m., strong winds and dark clouds forced the event to end early. But Turner called the event a success. Among all the attendees, estimated at 250, Turner said each person had an average of four blue cards to shred. One woman had the most at 128 cards, and the oldest card to be shredded dated back to 1967.
"She‘s probably the most honest woman in Las Vegas," Turner laughed, pointing to an idea held by many at the event -- that the policy only affected law-abiding gun owners.
Garrett Lohr, of Las Vegas, said he and his friends were all glad that the registration program is gone.
"It solves no crimes. We were really glad (Gov.) Sandoval signed it," he said. "It saves Metro money. It saves me time."
The Marine Corps veteran said most gun owners understand that they have a responsibility as well.
"We know what we‘re doing," he said. "Gun owners are law-abiding citizens. We just want to live freely."
In addition to booths featuring firearm manufacturers, the event also featured vendors targeting women shooters.
The Las Vegas-based online startup ak47girl.com was on hand with tank tops and yoga pants featuring images of hot pink rifles. Owner Machalla Danieri said more and more women are using guns, but most gear is made for men or doesn‘t fit women well. Danieri, with online customers across the U.S. and in Canada as well as an upcoming run at New Frontier Armory, said that though some people wouldn‘t expect women to carry a gun, times are changing.
"There‘s a lot of women that feel that way," she said. "It used to not be a feminine thing, but they‘re not going to be a sitting target. They want to be armed and knowledgeable."
Daniel Reid, a state liaison for the National Rifle Association who called the blue card program an "antiquated law," agreed that gun owners come in all makes and models and deserve the right to carry a gun for sport and protection.
"Everywhere I go I‘m seeing more and more women. It‘s really great," he said.
Lexi Tuma, 30, of Temecula, Calif., started Armed and Fabulous about eight weeks ago and agreed that expanded gun rights will affect a much more diverse group of people than many might expect. Her merchandise for women is already in two stores in California and may be coming to Las Vegas soon. She‘s also developing gear aimed at gun owners from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities.
For decades Clark County’s so-called blue card ordinance has required firearms capable of being concealed to be registered. Metro announced that it would stop registering guns and issuing citations for failing to do so early last month to comply with the new state law.
North Las Vegas City Councilman Isaac Barron was at the event and said the council is putting an item on the agenda next week to do away with its own registration policies.
Barron is a frequent customer at New Frontier Armory and loves to shoot zombie targets and water jugs outdoors. North Las Vegas‘ registration policies were probably the most restrictive in the county, he said.
North Las Vegas‘ code forbids open carry in parks and having weapons in vehicles.
"Now we‘ll be in line with the rest of the county and the state," he said. "It‘s a good thing."
Contact Wesley Juhl at wjuhl@reviewjournal.com and 702-383-0391. Find him on Twitter: @WesJuhl.
