A two-state solution on gun control?

Legislators ask their Nevada counterparts to cooperate on further restrictions.

SACRAMENTO — Alarmed that the gun used in a mass shooting in Gilroy was purchased legally in Nevada, two dozen California legislators have asked their counterparts in the neighboring state to meet this fall to discuss strengthening restrictions on firearms.

The unusual proposal was made Wednesday in a letter to Nevada Assembly Speaker Jason Frierson, who is a Democrat, and the Democrat-controlled Legislature just weeks after a 19-year-old resident of that state opened fire at the Gilroy Garlic Festival in Northern California, killing three people and wounding 13 others.

“While California has enacted numerous gun safety measures, this tragedy underscores the need for California to work closely with neighboring states to close loopholes and advance common-sense gun safety measures,” said the letter signed by 27 Democratic legislators, including Assembly members Jesse Gabriel of Encino, Reggie Jones-Sawyer of Los Angeles and Buffy Wicks of Oakland.

Gunman Santino William Legan bought the semiautomatic rifle legally in Nevada less than three weeks before the July 28 attack. The weapon, which authorities describe as a military-style AK-47, cannot be legally purchased in California or imported into the state, California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra said.

California also bans the sale or possession of ammunition magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds, but authorities said Legan, who killed himself during a gun battle with police, had a 75-round drum magazine and five 40-round magazines.

Gabriel said there are two California laws he would like to see adopted in Nevada that would have blocked the Gilroy shooter — a ban on assault weapons and a prohibition on selling guns to anyone younger than 21.

“This shooting in Gilroy was a reminder that lax gun laws in other states impact our safety here in California,” Gabriel said.

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives traced 1,554 guns recovered in California in 2017 to original purchases in Nevada, with many of them found at crime scenes, confiscated from criminals or found unclaimed.

Nevada’s Frierson said Wednesday that he is open to talking to his counterparts in California.

“I welcome collaboration on gun safety issues with colleagues from other states,” he said.

He cited “great strides” made by Nevada this year in adopting legislation.

“Sadly, gun violence is an epidemic across the country, and I believe the best way to ensure we are fully addressing this as a country is by addressing it holistically at the local, state and federal level,” he said.

Republican Nevada Assemblyman Tom Roberts of Las Vegas said he is also willing to talk to California lawmakers about gun issues, but he wants to make sure it is not a limited discussion.

“I just hope that the discussion includes stakeholders on both sides of the