Owners of guns have responsibilities

Guns. They are a hot topic. We are not here to debate any philosophies regarding the Second Amendment. However, a review of the calls this week brings to light the need for a brief dialogue on securing firearms.

Owning firearms is a constitutional privilege. As many felons know, that privilege can be revoked.

Staying focused now, securing a firearm is the gun owner’s responsibility. Nevada law and Boulder City statutes carve out many provisions affecting firearms. Coming to you from a legal standpoint provides a strong foundation, but talking with you from a true common sense standpoint affords shared understanding.

If you own a firearm and do not have immediate control of it: Lock it up! What do I mean? Well, don’t leave it in the passenger compartment of your vehicle for everyone to see, especially if you’re a person who leaves his or her car unlocked.

Next, at home, secure the firearms in a safe/vault or at least have a trigger lock on the weapon. The last thing we need is to have a child or grandchild stumble across a loaded weapon. The word tragedy fails to communicate a loss of that magnitude.

Even though openly carrying firearms is legal in Nevada, we routinely get called regarding citizens who exercise this right. If you like to carry your weapon on your person, then it may be a good idea to acquire a concealed weapons permit.

If you have questions regarding firearm laws and safety, there are plenty of us at the Boulder City Police Department who would love to get you the information you need to stay safe.

“Let’s hit it, Control, 269, we’ll be 10-8 ready to roll.”

Sept. 29. A concerned mother calls regarding her missing 18-year-old daughter. Apparently, the daughter and a friend went to the Greek Food Festival in Las Vegas. Mom calls, texts, drives by the friend’s house but her daughter is nowhere to be found. As midnight rolls around contact was made with the daughter; she’s OK. I guess it wasn’t the baklava.

Sept. 30. A subject requests two undesirables be removed from a residence on Montera Lane. The officer responds to the location; he finds both subjects riding away on one bicycle. The female is on the handlebars and the male is peddling. After both are removed from the residence, the female is warned about the legality of riding on the handlebars.

Oct. 1. Dispatch gets a call from a retired officer. The officer’s training kicks in when he sees what appears to be a drunken driver. The apparent drunken driver hits a sign, passes on the right, and drives in the wrong direction. Thankfully, Boulder City Police Department’s finest stop the driver. The officer realizes it’s not alcohol; the driver was about to go into a diabetic coma. Thankfully a great ending; no one was hurt.

Oct. 2. Officers are dispatched to Boulder City’s oldest sports bar regarding a disturbance. The intoxicated patron — hold on, what, say it isn’t so. The intoxicated bar supporter misplaced his keys and is refusing to leave. After playing let’s make a deal, Mr. Tipsy selected door No. 1, go home. Door No. 2 involved government housing, with bars, and not the drinking kind.

Oct. 3. Boulder City Fire Department calls Boulder City Police Department after spotting a subject messing around the rear of Von’s. They advise the subject is moving crates around and they spotted a firearm on the subject’s waist. Officers arrive and make contact with the subject. The subject provides a concealed weapons permit and it all checks out.

Oct. 4. Woman’s ex-husband comes in the house uninvited looking for his child. However, he has no custody rights. The apparently intoxicated ex-husband goes to the baby sitter’s house. Guess who meets him at the baby sitter’s? We do! Dear Henderson Detention Center, do you have room for one more?

Oct. 5. Officers get dispatched to a fight in progress across the street from Taco Bell. The sirens must have scared off the aggressor. Once we arrive, the homeowner is standing out front. Officer requests Boulder City Fire Department’s presence because the subject on scene has a nasty gash on his head. Well, no witnesses and the subject with the injuries refuses to prosecute. Officers still file a report.

So, I hope everyone enjoyed Art in the Park. We were blessed with the weather and everyone conducted themselves very cordially. So, start thinking about your Halloween costume. See y’all next week.

Officer Jeffrey Grasso is a 10-year veteran of the Boulder City Police Department. He previously served as a police officer in south Florida for four years.