Latest news with #SafeNest
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Proposed Nevada law addresses guns in cases of mental health crises
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – A bill moving through the Nevada Legislature meant to keep firearms away from people experiencing a mental health crisis could help others in domestic abuse situations, according to advocates. The Nevada Assembly Committee on Judiciary heard Senate Bill 347 on Wednesday, more than a month after it passed through the Senate. The proposal would allow police to temporarily confiscate guns from a person experiencing a mental health crisis who could become a threat to themselves or family members. 'We generally support bills,' SafeNest CEO Liz Ortenburger said. 'That helps get guns out of the hands of dangerous people.' Ortenburger believes this legislation could go a long way towards protecting people experiencing domestic violence. 'If your abusive partner has a gun,' she said. 'That is going to lead to a lot of fear, right?' 80 percent of domestic violence-related homicides in Nevada are connected to firearms, according to Ortenburger. Any bill that would limit access to a gun in a volatile, unstable, or violent situation is important, she told 8 News Now. 'Let's make the environment safer for the person who is experiencing that mental health crisis,' Ortenburger said. 'But also for the community around that person.' Those against the bill claim it's too broad. Several people shared concerns with due process and constitutional compliance during its hearings in the Nevada Assembly and Senate. 'It is in my eyes a clear violation,' Tanya Freeman said to lawmakers. 'Of the second amendment and the fourth amendment.' Other organizations in opposition include the National Rifle Association and the American Independent Party. 'It violates constitutional amendments, or provisions rather,' Thomas Morey of the Nevada Firearms Coalition said. 'And we are in opposition to this bill.' However, the people backing the bill called it a stopgap to help families suffering make it out of dangerous situations safely. 'Let them calm down, get the help that they need,' John Abel of the Las Vegas Police Protective Association said. 'And then be able to get their firearm back.' Those behind SB 347 made several amendments before its assembly hearing. The most significant, the firearm must be on the person in question, or in their immediate vicinity, for police to confiscate it. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SafeNest unveils ‘One Safe Place,' with plans to have it open by Oct. 30
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — SafeNest unveiled a first-of-its-kind centralized hub for victims of domestic and sexual violence on Thursday, with plans to have it ready in about six months. Clark County ranks No. 1 in the country for domestic violence homicides. Liz Ortenburger, CEO of SafeNest, said she's glad to be a part of this new initiative and bring awareness to the growing number of victims in the area. 'There had to be some change. I'm happy it's this and I'm glad the state chose to invest,' Ortenburger said. Thursday's unveiling of 'One Safe Place' featured the ceremonial passing of the SafeNest purple key to symbolize the new campus. The new space will provide over 500 individual survivor-focused services, including legal response, advocacy response, counseling, crisis response and housing services. Victims can also get help with WIC, food stamps and social services. Lisa Lopez, a domestic violence survivor and now SafeNest board member, said having all of SafeNest's resources under one roof will help reach more victims. 'It's very hard when you have children, and you have jobs. It's long days of driving from place to place, waiting in long lines and waiting for appointments. So having all of this under one roof will significantly change a survivor's outcome to a positive one,' Lopez said. The new hub is set to open Oct. 30. The new building must still be purchased and renovated with an estimated cost of $17 million. The state of Nevada is providing $9 million of the funding. SafeNest plans to launch a campaign to raise the rest. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Yahoo
Nevada ranks high in domestic violence homicides, data show
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — An organization is attempting to fight what experts say is a rising problem in the Silver State: domestic violence. According to data from World Population Review, Nevada is ranked among the top states when it comes to domestic violence-related homicides. One domestic violence survivor recounted the hopeless feeling. 'It was to the point where you want to surrender and give up,' she said. Her identity has been shrouded for security-related reasons. However, she has decided to speak out about what she called the life-changing help provided by SafeNest. 'I saw the future and they brought it to light for me, they helped me see that,' she said. 'Without that, I don't know what would have happened.' According to SafeNest's website, the organization's mission is to 'provide comprehensive, collaborative, and innovative services for everyone affected by domestic violence, sexual abuse, and human trafficking while passionately working to end this shared epidemic.' Liz Ortenburger, chief executive officer of SafeNest, said Clark County has one of the highest rates of men killing women. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department data indicate that domestic violence is the leading cause of murders. Additionally, Ortenburger shed light on an additional issue: bystander homicides. Instances where victims aren't the only targets, but the violence spreads to a new partner or friend who finds themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time. Data from 2023 indicates there were five bystander homicides in the region. While numbers are not yet available for 2024, Ortenburger says she is familiar with at least 10 cases of bystander homicides in that time. She said the answer is streamlining the process of prosecuting domestic violence. Ortenburger said one solution is 'One Safe Place,' a new collaborative center set to open in October. Here, people will have 24-hour access to law enforcement, legal assistance, housing support, case management, support groups, and a medical clinic. For her part, Ortenburger said counties and municipalities don't take the issues SafeNest addresses seriously enough. 'We have no support from the county; they were to give us money, and then they pulled it back for this project, and our local municipalities haven't invested at all,' Ortenburger said, adding that the growth of the state mirrors the worsening of the problems. Some survivors are forced to move from the state to escape the violence, still she wants to pass along a message: life gets better. 'Just be aware and know that there is support out there, you can get out,' the anonymous survivor advised. 'Don't be stuck and don't stay.' The building must be bought and renovated for $17 million. The state of Nevada has awarded $9 million, and the seller reduced the cost by $1 million. SafeNest plans to launch a capital campaign to raise the remaining $7 million. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Domestic violence survivor shares story as advocates push for change at Nevada Legislature
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – Domestic violence advocates and survivors are pushing for change with two bills introduced at the Nevada Legislature this week. 'I was attacked several times,' Brandi Sevilla recalled. Nevada lawmaker proposes searchable domestic violence offender database Sevilla bravely shared her story of survival with 8 News Now Friday. 'Paintings being slashed, holes punched in the wall,' she said. 'TVs broken and glasses shattered, it was horrible.' She escaped a violent relationship and has spent years rebuilding her life after unimaginable trauma. 'I think there's a good majority of us out there that think, 'Oh if we love them, if we love them we can fix them,'' Sevilla said. 'And it doesn't work that way.' Nevada ranks second in the country for rates of domestic violence according to Nevada Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence. FBI statistics show the state also ranks third for men murdering women, with 80% of cases happening in Clark County and Las Vegas. This week, advocates pushed for change by introducing two bill proposals at the Nevada Legislature. 'We cannot continue to deny that we are failing our women,' SafeNest CEO Liz Ortenburger said. Ortenburger was referencing Assembly Bill 216. It would require police officers to conduct an assessment and complete a questionnaire evaluating the level of danger to the domestic violence victim based on their answers. Another bill introduced to Assemblymembers was AB 162 or 'Alessandra's Law,' named for Alessandra Barlas, who was killed by her ex-boyfriend in California in 2015. 'Passing this bill would provide greater transparency,' Michelle Afshar of the Alessandra Foundation said, speaking to lawmakers. 'Potentially preventing other families from losing someone.' It would create a searchable database, similar to a sex offender registry, to see if someone has prior domestic violence convictions. It's modeled after a similar registry in Texas. To be listed, a person would have to have at least two prior misdemeanor convictions over seven years. 'I can't say with certainty that an online conviction would have prevented her murder,' Afshar said. 'But I do know it would have given us vital knowledge.' Sevilla called both proposals a step in the right direction, but she told 8 News Now she also believes court reform is necessary. 'They really need to come down on these men and women,' Sevilla said. 'Who are hurting their partners.' She hopes anyone struggling knows they are not alone. 'You've got to keep on fighting,' Sevilla concluded. 'And not give up.' If you or anyone you know is struggling with domestic violence, reach out to the following organizations: SafeNest: 702-646-4981 Shade Tree: 855-385-0072 The National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-SAFE(7233) Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Yahoo
Domestic violence in Nevada high; SafeNest seeks support
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Nevada has some of the highest domestic violence rates in the country and it doesn't seem to be slowing down. Sadly, a number of those cases end in death. In recent months, 33-year-old Renise Wolfe was allegedly shot in the head by her boyfriend. One month later, in January, police said Selene Perez's body was found in her boyfriend's car. Las Vegas man's threats toward girlfriend captured on video as he claims self-defense in deadly shooting: 'Want to kill you b****' Liz Ortenburger, the CEO of domestic abuse treatment centers like SafeNest, said domestic violence is the number one cause of homicide for women in Nevada. 'We're the second highest rate of domestic violence with 43.5% of women being affected in our community. My staff responds to about 25 to 30 domestic violence 911 calls with Metro Police each week,' Ortenburger added. Suspect crashes car with dead body in passenger seat after fleeing police in Las Vegas: LVMPD The numbers could be even higher. Ortenburger said some women are afraid to report violence for fear they might be arrested. 'A large number of undocumented women are one of our marginalized populations who are the most at risk for being victims of abuse,' she said. SafeNest is getting help from the state, and possibly soon from the county which will vote on its March 4 agenda, to add a new campus adjacent to its existing property. (The county is taking public comments on One Safe Place at this email: CRMinfo@ It will be called, One Safe Place. It will offer resources and a medical clinic to survivors. Dr. Sid Khurana with Nevada Mental Health said he is seeing an increase in people who are struggling with violence involving their partners and their children. He said that it's the intergenerational trauma of children who were subjected to their parents fighting, who then tend to be the ones to repeat the cycle with their partners. 'Stress is a real thing, economic stress, social political stress, intolerance in general that is brewing in society. All those factors contribute to an increased prevalence,' he said. The SafeNest Domestic Violence Hotline is (702) 646-4981. A list of resources and services can be found at this link. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
