Nevada security guards illegally carrying rifles and shotguns, lawmakers learn 

The state agency that licenses security guards has been letting armed guards carry shotguns and rifles for years, even though Nevada law has no provision allowing the practice, state legislators learned Tuesday at a meeting of the Nevada Legislative Commission.  

A regulation proposed by the Private Investigator Licensing Board, which oversees the security industry, sought to require eight hours of training for guards who carry shotguns and automatic rifles. 

PILB Executive Director Vincent Saladino told lawmakers that security guards in Nevada are already carrying rifles and shotguns.

“We were behind the thinking of having a minimum training for security professionals,” Saladino said. “That way they would understand how to safely carry it, and it would be more protections for the public and for themselves.”

“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?” Sen. Melanie Scheible asked Saladino. 

“Unfortunately, I don’t have an answer for that,” he replied. 

“I don’t see any permissive language allowing security guard companies to arm their security employees with rifles or shotguns,” Assemblymember Sandra Juaregui responded. 

Legislative counsel confirmed that state law has no provision for training security guards on anything but handguns, rendering the use of any other firearm by security guards, other than certified instructors, illegal. 

“I was probably given incorrect legal advice when we first brought this up, for you know, companies that were utilizing these additional tools,” Saladino said. 

“We need to find out who your DAG (deputy attorney general) is,” Sen. Rochelle Nguyen told Saladino, who attributed the bad legal advice to the PILB’s former director. 

The agency’s current DAG, Stephanie Itkin-Goodman, did not respond when the Current asked whether she’d read the proposed regulation. Itkin-Goodman is the Democratic candidate for Public Administrator in Clark County.  

“Their house is on fire,” Andrew Cowie, president of the Nevada Certified Firearms Instructors Association, said of the PILB during public comment before Saladino’s testimony.

Cowie asked lawmakers not to allow security guards to carry shotguns and rifles. 

“Your decision today will authorize security officers to carry AR-15s or shotguns,” Cowie told legislators. “I implore you. Do not approve any regulation they submit today until you have the opportunity to review.”

Cowie also asked legislators to increase the training requirements for armed guards, who are currently required to attend eight hours of classroom training and five hours on the range. 

Lawmakers suggested to Saladino that the PILB look at expanding training for armed security. 

“Nobody wants to spend money on training,” Saladino said of the security companies licensed by the state. 

Juaregui, the chairperson of the commission, reminded Saladino “that the purpose of the board is public safety, not member safety. So if your members aren’t okay with more training, but the public is requesting it, then that’s something that you should definitely consider.”