Yes. Convicted felons owning or possessing a firearm (NRS 202.360) is a category B felony under Nevada law, carrying one to six years in prison and possibly up to $5,000 in fines. It does not matter whether the conviction is from another state.
Felons may have guns only if they receive a Governor’s Pardon specifically reinstating their gun rights.
Who may not have guns in Nevada?
State law under NRS 202.360 prohibits the following people from owning, transferring, or possessing firearms in Nevada:
- Convicted felons (any felony, not just violent crimes)
- Convicted misdemeanants of domestic violence
- Convicted misdemeanants of stalking a family member or intimate partner
- Subjects of restraining orders that prohibit the subject from having a gun
- Fugitives from justice
- Illegal aliens
- Drug users or controlled substance addicts
- People adjudicated insane (either by a verdict or a plea)
- People adjudicated mentally ill or committed to a mental health facility by a court
- Dishonorably discharged veterans
- People who renounced their United States of America citizenship
The gun law NRS 202.257 makes it unlawful for people with a blood alcohol content of 0.08% or higher from having possession of a firearm. And NRS 202.300 and NRS 62E makes it a criminal charge for minors under 18 from possessing guns (in most circumstances).
Nevada is an open carry state. But a CCW permit is required to carry a handgun as a concealed firearm, even for self-defense. (Nevada has reciprocity with several states such as Arizona for carrying a concealed weapon.) People may apply for a CCW permit from their local law enforcement agency / police department.
Background checks are required to purchase guns in Nevada. These checks usually catch whether the would-be gun owner is a prohibited person. And there are locations where guns and deadly weapons are always off limits, including schools and child care facilities.
Learn more about gun possession by prohibited person in Nevada.
What is the punishment for illegally having a gun in Nevada?
It depends on why the defendant is an unlawful user:
| Prohibited persons |
Nevada penalties for possession of the firearm |
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Category B felony:
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Category D felony conviction:
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Misdemeanor crime:
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Juvenile delinquency:
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Can I get a Governor’s Pardon in Nevada?
It is very rare for the Nevada Governor to grant a pardon to convicted felons to restore their civil right to bear arms, but it may still be worth trying. In general, people are advised to wait for several years before submitting a pardon application:
| Nevada conviction | Recommended waiting period before submitting pardon application |
|---|---|
| misdemeanor battery domestic violence | 5 years after release from actual custody or a suspended sentence, whichever occurs later |
| category E felony | 6 years after release from probation, parole or prison confinement |
| category D felony | 8 years after release from probation, or 9 years after release from parole or prison confinement |
| category C felony | 8 years after release from probation, or 9 years after release from parole or prison confinement |
| category B felony | 8 years after release from probation, or 10 years after release from parole or prison confinement |
| category A felony | 12 years after release from probation, parole or prison confinement |
We represent clients in Las Vegas, NV and throughout Clark County and the state of Nevada.
