Sandoval seeks assessment of school security

Gov. Brian Sandoval said Thursday he wants an assessment of how Nevada's public schools are doing in regards to security following the horrific shooting deaths a week ago at a Connecticut elementary school.

Sandoval made the request as chairman of the state Homeland Security Commission, which met Thursday by teleconference. A presentation will be prepared for the next meeting of the commission.

"I think it would be worthwhile perhaps if we had an item on the agenda where we could get some type of presentation of where our state stands in terms of school security," he said. "I'm interested in terms of what is best practice and if there are things we need to recommend or do.

"I also am curious in terms of fencing and single points of entry and buzzing in and out," Sandoval said. "Just how we're doing with the newer schools and the older schools. Perhaps it might be appropriate to have a representative from the two largest school districts."

Sandy Hook, Conn., shooter Adam Lanza forced his way into the elementary school, where he killed 26 adults and children before taking his own life.

Washoe County Sheriff Mike Haley said the review could include a discussion of a proposed "campus carry" bill being sought by Assemblywoman Michele Fiore, R-Las Vegas. The measure, first reported on by the Nevada News Bureau, would allow those with concealed weapons permits to carry their weapons on the campuses of the Nevada System of Higher Education. Concealed weapons are now prohibited on the campuses except for rare exceptions.

A similar bill proposed by former state Sen. John Lee in the 2011 session was the focus of intense debate but did not pass.

Haley said he opposed the bill in 2011 as president of the state Sheriffs and Chiefs Association. The higher education system also opposed the bill. He also said the commission should discuss what position to take on Fiore's plan.

"As we all know, even though we are at a university with young men and women, we also have day-care centers in those universities, we also have high school students meeting there for college-level training, and we have kids moving in and out of those facilities on a regular basis," he said.

Adam Garcia, security director at the University of Nevada, Reno, said he remains opposed to the bill as he did in 2011.