Nevadans should lend support to gun background checks initiative

We appreciate the recent front-page coverage the Review-Journal gave to an important issue facing our state: gun violence. Keeping guns out of the hands of criminals and other dangerous people is why we, as members of the advisory board of Nevadans for Background Checks, join community leaders from all walks of life who choose to add not just our names but our voices to this critical cause.

We want to be clear that Nevadans for Background Checks is just that — a campaign by Nevadans to pass criminal background checks on all gun sales in our state. The Jan. 31 RJ article ("Cash flowing to gun battle") references gun safety organizations that provided seed money to help qualify the ballot measure, but make no mistake, this is a Nevada campaign. Our advisory board counts 50 individuals from across the state and political spectrum — from law enforcement, business, faith and community leaders, domestic violence advocates and gun owners — who believe passing criminal background checks is a common-sense step we can take to save lives.

We are not alone in our efforts. We are joined by nearly 250,000 Nevadans who put their signatures on the petition to qualify the measure for the November ballot, and more than 1,500 people who in the past few months have worked hard to support the campaign through phone banks, fundraising and other awareness events. While individuals and organizations across the country are closely watching what happens here, this is a campaign by Nevadans for Nevadans.

The article repeats myths perpetuated by the gun lobby, particularly when it comes to temporary transfers of firearms for self-defense and while hunting. The ballot measure is clear and specifically exempts people in imminent danger needing a gun for self-defense and those borrowing weapons when out hunting. Nothing in the ballot measure prohibits the loaning of guns.

Further, the article quotes a representative of the gun lobby who states that the criminal background check initiative is unnecessary because of President Barack Obama's recent executive action. This is false. Those actions only increase enforcement of existing federal law — they do not close the loophole that allows unlicensed sellers online and at gun shows to sell guns, with no background check required. Passing the criminal background check initiative closes that loophole and levels the playing field between federally licensed dealers and unlicensed sellers.

Polls show a majority of Nevadans, including National Rifle Association members, support criminal background checks, and research shows closing this loophole will save lives. In the 18 states that have passed similar legislation, rates of gun suicides, domestic partner murders and deadly shootings of police officers were cut nearly in half. Passing the criminal background check initiative is the right thing to do. Learn the facts about this important initiative at www.safenevada.org, and lend your voice to the growing number of Nevadans who are working to make our communities safer for all of us.

— Dave Kallas is a Nevadans for Background Checks advisory board member, former president of Southern Nevada Conference of Police and Sheriffs and a 30-year veteran of the Metro Police Department. Lesley Miller is a Nevadans for Background Checks advisory board member and partner at Kaempfer Crowell Law firm.