Paseo Verde Library
So I ran out of books and went to the Paseo Verde Library (Henderson) today. I went in, walked right past the “no drugs, alcohol, or weapons” sign which pursuant to NRS 202.3673 prohibited me from carrying a concealed weapon. Good thing I was open carrying!
Now I’ve done it before without incident, but this time, as I was looking at all the new books (due back in 3 weeks, rather than the 1 my hometown library used to allow; good on you Henderson!), I was approached by an employee/volunteer who politely told me the following:
He stated, to the effect that: “Sir, this is a public building. We have signs that prohibit weapons in the building.”
I politely responded that actually, the law only prohibits concealed weapons in public buildings.
“But this is a public building.”
I should have said: So what?
I kept up the line that I was doing nothing wrong by open carrying and that the law again, prohibited concealed weapons. I tried to give him one of my info cards, but he threw his hand up like he was done with me and walked off. He approached the librarian (I assume) and tattled on me. I finished looking at the new books and walked off.
Nobody did anything.
I made my selection and checked out without further incident. No patrons got upset or alarmed, no kids panicked. No staff members eyed me suspiciously (other than that guy) and the police didn’t arrive. I didn’t commit any acts of violence and my gun stayed in its holster in plain sight where it belonged.
What offended me was this guy was so quick to jump on me (kudos for being observant, at least), but equally quick to dismiss me when I protested. If he knew better, then why not try to reason and educate me? I was being polite and informative (in our very brief exchange), not angry, abusive, or anything other than cool and respectful. He was the one who became undignified and walked away. He did not want to engage in an exchange of ideas.
I will give credit to the librarian in charge for not calling the police on my (just across the parking lot) or accosting me further. I have sent an email to various library officials and the city (a copy for you). I intend to go back and exercise my right to open carry while at the library next time I need reading material.
-Letter-
To whom it may concern:
This letter is concerning the erroneous information that a library employee/volunteer may have regarding the carrying of firearms while in a public building. Today, while I was visiting the Paseo Verde library, a male employee/volunteer (approximately late 30s to early 40s, medium height, stocky build with dark hair) approached me and informed me that the handgun I was openly carrying on a holster on my belt was prohibited in a public building. This is incorrect.
Nevada law only prohibits the concealed carry of firearms in public buildings where there is a metal detector or a ‘no weapons’ sign present at each public entrance. Openly carrying weapons as I was is not prohibited by law. Nevada state law also prohibits local authorities from making their own laws or regulations regarding carrying firearms (known as preemption). I violated no law by openly carrying a firearm in the library.
The reason I carried a firearm into the library is for my own personal safety. One never knows when one might encounter a criminal or a deranged person bent on violent mayhem. I have no desire whatsoever to violate the law, only to protect myself in the same manner that I bring my cell phone (a lifeline to 911) with me wherever I go and keep fire extinguishers and smoke detectors in my home.
I consider today’s interaction a small affair. No one was alarmed, outraged, or seemed to notice or care, aside from this one ill-informed employee/volunteer. In fact, every other interaction I’ve had regarding me openly carrying a firearm has been positive and supportive.
What galled me most was the unwillingness of this employee/volunteer to listen to me. He stated (politely of course): “Sir, this is a public building and we have signs prohibiting weapons in the building.”
I politely responded that state law only prohibited concealed weapons and that I was not violating any law. I offered to discuss this further with him and wanted to offer him a business card for an informative website regarding Nevada firearms carry laws, but he declined and walked away, seemingly upset. I am most offended because he made no attempt to engage in discourse with me or showed any desire to educate himself on the subject. Small-mindedness in a library of the 21st Century shocked me. I finished making my selection, checked out, and left without further incident. There was no shock, horror, or alarm that I could detect from the other patrons.
While I have carried my handgun openly in this library before without incident, and I do not believe this to be a systemic attempt at violating Nevada’s rights within the Henderson library system, I was bothered by this incident and would like to call attention to the fact that openly carrying a weapon in the library is perfectly legal.
I invite you and your staff to read the relevant statutes and to browse my informative website,
www.nevadacarry.org.
I do request that perhaps an email be sent to all library employees/volunteers informing them of the legality of openly carrying a firearm inside the library. Also, the sign at the door should be modified to state “no concealed weapons” as that is the only lawful prohibition.
Thank you for your kind attention to this matter,
NRS 202.3673 Permittee authorized to carry concealed firearm while on premises of public building; exceptions; penalty.
http://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-202.html#NRS202Sec3673
NRS 244.364 Limited authority to regulate firearms;
http://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-244.html#NRS244Sec364
His "tattling" also shows he is a coward who hides under the guise of law to exercise authoritah over others.