Open Carry and the Paseo Verde Library

Please see the open letter I have addressed to the city of Henderson and various library administrators, regarding an incident that occurred today, 8/23/2014.

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).[1] 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.

As of 8/25/2014, no response yet from the library administration.

Is the Henderson Public Library system a public building?

Some folks have been confused by the idea of a library district, separate from the city. Does that slight offset create some sort of public/private entity where the district can enjoy government benefits but also exercise private business powers?
            The Henderson library district says this about itself: “HDPL was established and operates as an independent governmental unit under authority of NRS 379.”[2] NRS 379 regulates public libraries. It’s pretty clear that a public library, is, well, a public library. But just in case people aren’t clear, let’s delve a little deeper, shall we?
            NRS 379.120 states “The library and reading room shall forever be and remain free and accessible to the people of the city, subject to such reasonable rules and regulations as the governing authority may adopt.”[3] Note that the second clause, with respect to open carry of firearms, should be pre-empted by NRS 244.364, as the board of trustees are appointed by the county, and NRS 268.418, as the library is a city library district.
            NRS 379.0057 defines “public library” as: “...a consolidated, county, district, city or town library, a group of libraries which have entered into an interlocal agreement or any other library predominantly supported by public money.”[4]
            NRS 332.310 defines “building” (in the public context) as: “...any existing structure, building or facility, including any equipment, furnishings or appliances within the existing structure, building or facility, that is owned or operated by a local government. The term includes, without limitation, occupied and unoccupied existing structures, buildings and facilities, and any other existing improvements owned or operated by a local government that incur operating costs.”[5]
            Also NRS 202.3673 subsection 6(b)(2), the section prohibiting concealed carry in certain public buildings (but no open carry), defines a “public building” as: “any building or office space occupied by: the State of Nevada or any county, city, school district or other political subdivision of the State of Nevada and used for any public purpose.”[5]
            So I do believe that the Henderson Public Library system is a public library, while it’s not spelled out as clearly as we’d like. Feel free to open carry at the library, folks! Just please be respectful.