Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton wrapped up her second visit to Reno last night with a large organizing rally where she focused on several issues important to northern Nevada. Reno Public Radio's Julia Ritchey was there and has more.
The Nevada Gay Men's Chorus sang show tunes at the outset of the rally at Pine Middle School, where Clinton spoke to about 500 people packed into the hot gymnasium.
The former Secretary of State talked education, equal pay and the economy — but lingered on the issue of gun control.
Citing the statistic that 33,000 people die each year from gun-related incidents, Clinton referenced the 2013 Sparks Middle School as a tragic, but avoidable accident.
"If it hadn't been for one extraordinary teacher, there would've been a lot more death and injury."
That shooting involved a seventh grader who shot and killed math teacher Michael Landsbury and injured two other students. Clinton advocated for what she called common sense measures such as universal background checks and prohibiting people on the no-fly list from purchasing guns.
"We need to speak out, and particularly gun owners, of whom I know there are more than a few up here in Northern Nevada, need to join the chorus. Protect your rights, but keep guns out of the hands of the wrong people."
Earlier in the day, Clinton met with Mayor Hillary Scheive and toured Crossroads, a substance abuse center run by Washoe County and the Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada.
Clinton cited the public-private partnership in her speech as a good example of how to reduce America's overcrowded prisons and give a second chance to those suffering from addiction.
"The first year they ran it, the county saved $4 million. Because when you add up how much cheaper it is to put somebody in this program than send them to jail, or have them send them to ER all the time, you'll save money."
The crowd at the event was a mix of young and old, like Barbara Allain, a retired Washoe County school teacher, who stood in line for more than an hour.
"Her programs are about children and about women and that's the most important issue that we have in our land, if we want this land to be a good land. And it always has been."
The candidate did touch on education as well, touting her plan to reduce student debt and provide free tuition to those attending a four-year public university or community college.
Clinton ended her speech focusing on threats abroad, promising no American troops on the ground in Syria or Iraq if she were elected president. The former secretary says she would prefer a strategy of combating Islamic extremism through airstrikes, special forces and cyber attacks.
And while she did not mention chief rival Bernie Sanders, she did encourage the crowd to attend the state’s upcoming caucus in just three months.
