CCW in Vegas

I know this can be a sensitive topic but I am looking for some info. A friend of mine and I have been having the debate about carrying concealed firearms in Vegas. We both have permits which are valid in Nevada. Typically I carry when/where it is legal.

He is going to Vegas next week and I told him I would NOT carry not there. LVMPD is not friendly to tourist who are carrying for one and two between the alcohol (neither of us drink) infused drunks and some properties having policies (which in Vegas has no force of law) it just did not seem like a good idea. Mind you, with his firearm, it fits into a pocket holster into his pocket, nobody knows its there nor would they unless he had to pull it.

This thread is not and should not be used for a gun debate, Im looking for anyone who has carried in Vegas and what there experience has been.

 

http://www.handgunlaw.us/states/nevada.pdf

the above has pretty much all the info you need and it is frequently updated

I do not have specific first hand experience, but as the above link states casinos can post all the signs they wish, but those signs are not valid anywhere other than places that are specifically listed in Nevada law as being off limits

public buildings on airport property, child care, courthouses ect.

BUT a casino can immediately ask you to leave and if you do not you will be trespassing and you can expect to be charged with trespassing and the ones with signs will ask you to leave

as to carrying in what would be considered a "bar" with some large % of sales coming from alcohol I would avoid that, but you will have to read the applicable laws and decide for yourself

as for consumption I would avoid that as well, but "some" on the internet in various discussions seem to indicated that under .08 would be legal......again I am not a lawyer or a legal expert and I would defer to the link provided and say you should read other forums related to these types of topics and decide for yourself......if you decide a bar is OK and having a few is OK I personally would not see a huge issue with that, but I would be staying well below .08 for sure

myself having a commercial license and being a big lightweight (as far as drinking goes) and a very moderate drinker because of that I would just pass if I was CCW and not have the issue......but if I was with friends I knew and trusted and they were having a couple I would not think twice just like if it was in the deer camp ect

as for in casinos that are not posted again "stories" on the WWW in various forums on this topic have many anecdotes of people carrying without issue and even "profiling" and or not properly concealing after going to the restroom (either no one noticed or no one said anything until he noticed) and one the guy even let it fall out of his fanny pack onto the floor and was questioned by security, showed his license and was allowed to go about his business and even returned several other times

these types of things should be avoided at all times period, but shit happens and apparently at least some casinos seem to know this and if you are permitted and "legal" you can move on about your business

at the end of the day as far as I can tell as long as you are permitted, in a place with no signs, and it stays concealed you are in to clear....if you are in a place with signs (and it is not one of the places that state law specifically prohibits) the most that can/will happen is you are ask to leave and you need to do so post haste.....bars.....seem to be the same as casinos, but read up and make your own decision.....drinking see bars and stay well under .08 if you decide to

other than that you should be good to go

 

I carry every day at home and when I travel via car. I used to be able to carry in NV as my AZ permit had reciprocity, but they recently revoked that. however, I've never taken my gun to Vegas. part of that is it's a pain with the air travel. however, I can also carry in MS and have driven to the Beau many times and only one time have I taken my gun there and that was because it was a pass-through stop on my way for a trip where I wanted to have it. but I just kept it in the safe the entire trip.

my main reason for not taking it is I don't feel I need to. I never leave the casino except via limo and only travel to other casinos and the golf course. it's just more of a hassle than not having it. however, if I walked the strip a lot, I probably would feel differently.

as far as drinking, you just have to be really smart. I drink while carrying, but I never get sloppy. that's a bad combo as if there were a case where you needed to use it and you were really drunk, you could have major issues in court about your judgment being impaired. but that's the same in Vegas as it is everywhere else.

if your friend wants to carry, I don't really think there's any issues. 99.99% of the time he's not going to need it and nobody is going to know it's there anyway.

 

Unfortunately, they no longer reciprocate Florida licenses as well.
If I were to carry it would be when we walk the strip early mornings which is about 4-5am or if we were to go off strip or down one of the side streets.

I suspect the rules are going to be the same as any location. Simply be responsible, don't imprint or flash it. As with any location they have the right to simply ask you to leave.

 

If you are ever asked to leave any property because you are conceal carrying, that means you did a poor job of concealing.

If you conceal properly, you never need to worry about concerns such as the OP's friend.

I'm ex LEO and I've conceal carried at every possible place in Vegas you could imagine without any hassle, of course if they did I could just flash them my badge and tell them to fuck off, but the point I'm trying to make is, since it was concealed properly, I never had to. The only places where I've been denied access are the places that require a pat down before they let you in, i.e. strip club.

I've also written citations for people who've done a poor job at concealing. You can unintentionally reveal your weapon when you bend over or reach for something. Once that concealed weapon is exposed, you've broken the law and the terms of your concealed carry permit. The only time you can brandish a concealed weapon is during a self defense situation.

When I was an LEO, I could care less where you're carrying because I won't know you're carrying, but concealed means concealed meaning know one should know you have a weapon. I was one of those very few and rare pro-gun LEO's and I supported people's constitutional right to bare arms as long as they were practicing their due diligence.

Also stay away from the alcohol. Why take a chance? The DA will be all over your ass even if you had the slightest scent of alcohol on your breath regardless if whatever the legal limit is set at. If you're going to drink, leave the gun inside the safe.

Be safe and have fun.

 

We all agree alcohol and guns don't mix, I think 99% of us do. I appreciate the feedback and will pass on what I can to him.

Aftermath, I do need to correct you, printing and accidental exposing a firearm is not always a violation of law nor is in the case of Nevada open carrying. LEOSA also does not protect you in a place where you are asked to leave with a firearm, you can carry it into states like NY where most cannot but there are laws that protect the individual property rights. Not trying to debate, but make sure correct info is there.

 

Depending on which county issued the CCW, especially here in California, policy states that any type of exposure, accidental or not is a violation of CCW policy and possible revocation of permit may result. Basically what it's saying is, "We issued you a permit to conceal, MAKE SURE IT STAYS CONCEALED!".

There's always the word of the law and the spirit of the law. There have been many exceptions made once they found out I was LEO. A Local Indian casino I used to frequent (that has a no firearms policy) found out I was LEO through the grapevine. Floor manager walked up to me and asked if I was packing and I said yes, and he said "Good, we can use the extra protection in here" and comped me a buffet.

 

Some states require you to conceal other states it's concealed or open. Most states actually allow open carry. Some don't even require a permit for open, only concealed.

 

Nevada is open carry for the most part, but Clark County has a grandfathered exemption

and as to "printing" (the correct term VS profiling that incorrectly said above) or accidental exposure some states and specifically Texas (just recently passed) have a law on the books where accidental exposure from shirt riding up, bending over and a small kid seeing it under a coat ect are not violations of the law...I believe this is the case even in Clark County as well....the rest of Nevada is no license required open carry so exposure is not an issue although there are locations that will have you "beat the rap", but not beat the ride so again keep it covered