Navigating Nevada’s concealed and open carry laws can be challenging if you are a gun owner. But you need to make sure you are following the rules if you want to avoid any legal trouble. One common source of confusion when it comes to Nevada’s open carry laws is whether or not you can carry a loaded gun in your car.
Nevada allows you to openly carry certain weapons in your vehicle without a permit. You may also keep some concealed weapons in the car as long as you have a current and valid concealed carry permit. To learn more about Nevada’s open carry laws regarding guns in cars, contact Adras & Altig, Attorneys at Law today.
What Does Open Carry Mean?
“Open carry” means having a firearm on your person or within reach where anyone can see it. Open carry is separate from “concealed carry,” which is when you have a gun on your person that others cannot see.
There are many ways you can openly carry a gun in Nevada. You could use a hip or shoulder holster, tuck the gun into your belt or waistband, or use a sling holster for larger guns like rifles and shotguns. The method of carrying the weapon does not matter so much as whether the weapon is visible to other people.
Who Cannot Drive with Guns in Nevada?
There are certain groups of people who are not allowed to drive with a gun in their car, regardless of whether they have a concealed weapons permit. These include:
- Anyone with a blood alcohol content (BAC) above 0.08 percent
- Anyone convicted of a felony
- Anyone convicted of domestic violence
- Anyone convicted of stalking a partner or family member
- Anyone prohibited from owning a gun due to a domestic violence restraining order
- Drug users
- Fugitives
- Anyone found mentally ill or committed to a mental health facility by a judge
- Anyone who was found not guilty of a crime due to insanity
- Anyone who has pleaded guilty or was found guilty but also ruled mentally ill
- Veterans who were dishonorably discharged
- Undocumented immigrants
How to Legally Carry a Gun on Your Person in a Vehicle
In general, Nevada law allows you to openly carry a loaded or unloaded handgun in your car. You can also openly display shotguns, rifles, and other long guns if the weapon is not loaded. While long guns can have loaded magazines, a cartridge cannot be in the firing chamber.
Openly carried weapons in the car can be kept in places such as the trunk, glovebox, center console, or under the seat. Unless you have a concealed carry permit, the weapon must be visible if you’re physically carrying it on your person while in the car. There are also a few places that prohibit guns even in parking lots, such as:
- Public schools
- Public childcare facilities
- Some colleges and universities
- Post offices
- VA facilities
- Military bases
- Red Rock
In most cases, you do not have to tell the police you have a gun in your car if you are pulled over. However, police can perform a pat-down and temporarily seize your gun if they suspect a crime has been committed or believe they are in danger. Concealed weapons permit holders may also be required to show their permit if they are carrying a concealed weapon and the officer asks if they are concealing a weapon.
Contact the Experienced Criminal Defense Attorneys at Adras & Altig, Attorneys at Law
If you have run into legal trouble carrying a gun in your car, the Nevada criminal defense attorneys at Adras & Altig, Attorneys at Law can help. Call us today or visit our contact page today for a free consultation.
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At Adras & Altig, we believe that every client we work with deserves a fresh start. Our dedicated Las Vegas criminal defense attorneys take the time to get to know you so we can understand the circumstances surrounding your arrest.