NEVADA — The Nevada Private Investigators Licensing Board proposed a regulation requiring eight hours of training for security guards who carry shotguns and automatic rifles at a Nevada Legislative Commission meeting on Tuesday. Nevada state legislative counsel confirmed that current state law has no provision for training security guards on firearms other than handguns.

State legislative counsel also stated that the use of any firearm by security guards, other than handguns or by certified instructors, is illegal under current state law. Vincent Saladino, Executive Director of the Nevada Private Investigators Licensing Board, said, "I was probably given incorrect legal advice when we first brought this up, for you know, companies that were utilizing these additional tools." He attributed the incorrect advice to the former director of the board.

Nevada Senator Melanie Scheible questioned the utility of such weapons, asking, "What purpose does a shotgun serve at the EDC (Electric Daisy Carnival) or at a local apartment complex or outside of a jewelry store? What's the purpose of carrying a shotgun?" Saladino responded, "Unfortunately, I don't have an answer for that." Nevada Assemblywoman Sandra Juaregui, chairperson of the Nevada Legislative Commission, stated, "I don't see any permissive language allowing security guard companies to arm their security employees with rifles or shotguns."

Andrew Cowie, President of the Nevada Certified Firearms Instructors Association, urged the commission not to approve the proposed regulation. "Their house is on fire," Cowie said. "Your decision today will authorize security officers to carry AR-15s or shotguns. I implore you. Do not approve any regulation they submit today until you have the opportunity to review." Saladino said, "Nobody wants to spend money on training." He added, "That way they would understand how to safely carry it, and it would be more protections for the public and for themselves." Juaregui countered, "That the purpose of the board is public safety, not member safety."