CARSON CITY (AP) — Survivors of a 2017 mass shooting at a Las Vegas music festival spoke Tuesday in support of a Nevada bill expanding gun background checks to private gun sales and transfers.
The attack killed 58 people and left hundreds injured, becoming the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.
While gun reform advocates acknowledge the background check bill would not have stopped shooter Stephen Paddock from obtaining his weapons, they say the measure is an important step to prevent gun violence.
Democratic Assemblywoman Sandra Jauregui, who survived the 2017 mass shooting, recalled the gunfire to lawmakers and testified in support of the bill.
The comments came during a joint meeting of lawmakers from the Assembly and Senate, who were hearing comment on the bill. It aims to change state law so people can't purchase guns and avoid background checks by going through unlicensed gun sellers.
Leading Democrats said a bill expanding gun background checks would uphold Second Amendment rights while increasing public safety.
Gov. Steve Sisolak, a Democrat, told lawmakers the bill is a priority and looks forward to signing it into law if it passes. He says gun violence is not an easy issue to solve, but most state residents support gun background checks.
Attorney General Aaron Ford also spoke in support of the legislation. He says requiring background checks on private gun sales are particularly important due to the online gun market.
Everytown for Gun Safety reports 20 states and Washington, D.C., require criminal background checks on sales by unlicensed gun sellers. Assembly Speaker Jason Frierson says a vote on a gun background check bill would be among the first taken this year.
Republican lawmakers have accused Democrats of hurrying the legislation.