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Senate passes bill barring firearm purchases after certain hate-crime convictions; opponent calls measure unconstitutional
Summary
SB 89 bars firearm purchases and possession for anyone convicted in the prior 10 years of a gross-misdemeanor hate crime or certain violent offenses that constitute a hate crime; Senator Titus urged colleagues to vote no, calling the penalty disproportionate.
The Nevada Senate on May 16 passed Senate Bill 89, a measure that prohibits a person from purchasing, owning or possessing a firearm if, in the immediately preceding 10 years, the person was convicted of committing or attempting to commit an offense that is a gross misdemeanor constituting a hate crime under Nevada law or a similar offense under federal or other state law.
Senator Pezzina, identified on the floor as the bill sponsor, summarized SB 89 and said the measure applies the firearms prohibition where the qualifying conviction occurred in the previous 10 years and that each firearm purchased by such a person would constitute a separate violation. The Senate summary also said the bill does not apply to a person who was convicted of any of the listed offenses prior to July 1, 2025 and who legally owned a firearm before that date.
Senator Dina Titus rose in opposition on the floor, arguing the bill "undermines Nevada second amendment rights by imposing a decade long firearms ban for nonviolent misdemeanors like graffiti or offensive speech, a punishment that is disproportionate and unjust and unconstitutional." She urged colleagues to vote no.
After floor remarks, the Senate conducted a roll-call vote. The yeses were 12 and the noes were 8; the clerk declared SB 89 passed and ordered to the Assembly.
Why it matters: The measure creates a time-limited (10-year) firearms prohibition tied to certain hate-crime convictions and related violent offenses; the sponsor and opponent framed the bill in constitutional and public-safety terms during floor debate.
Text and carve-outs: The floor summary noted the statute is written to exclude persons convicted prior to July 1, 2025 from the new prohibition if they already legally owned firearms before that date.
Next steps: The bill was transmitted to the Assembly for consideration.
