Petitions For Background Checks

LAS VEGAS (AP) – Proponents of gun owner background checks say they turned in just under 247,000 signatures for a Nevada ballot measure to strengthen screening and reporting of weapon purchases.

Leaders of a group called the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol say they submitted about 200,000 signatures supporting their call for legalized pot use in Nevada.

The signatures handed in by Wednesday’s deadline still need to be checked and certified.

But officials from each group say they collected far more than the 102,000 needed to require the 2015 Legislature to consider their measure or to automatically put the question on the November 2016 ballot if state lawmakers fail to act.

Nevada Secretary of State spokeswoman Catherine Lu says signature verifications on both petitions could be completed Dec. 3.