63°F
weather icon Clear

What happens to firearm ‘blue cards’ now that state controls registration?

When Gov. Brian Sandoval signed a bill into law June 2 that established state control over gun registration, many in Clark County had one question.

What happens to the blue cards?

“We had a lot of confusion initially,” said Bob Irwin, owner of The Gun Store, 2900 E. Tropicana Ave.

For decades the county’s so-called “blue card” ordinance has required firearms capable of being concealed to be registered and also prohibited the unlawful transfer of handguns.

Several gun shop owners, including Irwin, weren’t sure when the law would take effect, and wondered if they had to wait for the Clark County Commission to repeal its ordinances first.

A quick Google search for “Clark County blue cards” brings up a page on Metro’s website with instructions on how to register your firearm.

Or, it used to.

As of Thursday, clicking that link directed to Metro’s homepage.

Irwin said he called Metro the day after the bill was signed and was told to continue having customers fill out the paperwork for blue cards.

But on Wednesday evening, Metro announced officers would no longer enforce county ordinances regarding gun registration.

So, as of Thursday, Irwin and his store are no longer filling out the paperwork for blue cards.

“I wish I’d never called Metro and asked,” Irwin said.

Michelle Gordon, owner of Northwest Arms at 4450 N. Tenaya Way, said she is glad the “nuisance” process of registering guns has been eliminated.

“One less step,” she said about having to fill out significantly less paperwork on gun sales. “I hope it never comes back.”

Irwin called the bill a “110 percent win for honest gun owners.”

“The bad guys never registered their guns anyways,” Irwin said

Another point of confusion for many in the county is what will happen to the current database of registered firearms.

Metro’s director of intergovernmental services Chuck Callaway said the department will keep the current list for one year, starting from the day the bill was signed.

After that year, Callaway said, the database will be deleted.

Contact reporter Colton Lochhead at clochhead@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4638. Find him on Twitter: @ColtonLochhead

Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.
THE LATEST