Ira Hansen

Hansen was born in Reno, Nevada and attended local Washoe County schools. While attending Sparks High School Ira met his future wife, Alexis Lloyd.{{cite web | url=https://www.irahansen.com/meet-the-family | title=Meet the Family }} As of 2014 they have been married for 34 years and have 8 children. Hansen started his own plumbing company in 1986 at the age of 26. He is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and has been involved in the community as a Sparks Little League coach, a Sparks Pop Warner coach and as a Scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts of America. He is a third generation Eagle Scout and all of his four sons are Eagle Scouts.{{cite web | url=http://www.irahansen.com/#!about-ira/cjg9 | title=Home }}

Hansen was an opinion columnist for the Sparks Tribune and was previously a talk radio host on station KKOH in Reno for five years and later for 99.1 KKFT.

Hansen is a lifetime member of Nevada Bighorns Unlimited, the NRA and other sportsmen and gun rights groups. His website states that he believes in "constitutionally limited government, lower taxes, and individual responsibility". He has been a proponent of states rights and has opposed what he believes is overreach by the Bureau of Land Management and other federal agencies.{{cite web|last=Tucker |first=Eric |url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/nevada/hansen-seeks-limit-blm-forest-service-police-powers |title=Las Vegas News | Breaking News & Headlines | Las Vegas Review-Journal |publisher=Reviewjournal.com |date=2022-04-28 |accessdate=2022-05-18}} Hansen has been an advocate for the construction industry by calling for a reform to Nevada's construction defect laws which he believes hurt the Nevada construction industry and are only benefiting attorneys who "have boasted that they have grossed over a billion dollars in construction defect claims."{{cite web | url=http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/dec/07/construction-defects-law-under-microscope/ | title=Construction defects law under the microscope - Las Vegas Sun Newspaper | date=7 December 2011 }} Hansen is an advocate for the mining industry and says on his website that "mining is the bedrock of Nevada's rural economy even today".{{cite web | url=http://www.irahansen.com/#!issues/cee5 | title=Home }} He is a member of the Nevada Renewable Energy Coalition and believes in using renewable energy sources to create jobs.

Hansen's aunt, Janine Hansen, is a perennial candidate under the conservative Independent American Party of Nevada.{{cite web | last=DeHaven | first=James | title=Surprise candidates shake up NV primary races | website=Reno Gazette-Journal | date=2018-03-16 | url=https://www.rgj.com/story/news/politics/2018/03/16/nevada-primary-surprises-bundy-tarkanian-grab-spotlight-election-season-begins/433971002/ | access-date=2024-03-17}} Hansen, who has stated that his aunt's efforts damage the Republican Party, has been reported to leave committee hearings when she gives testimony.{{cite web | last=Damon | first=Anjeanette | title=Assemblyman leaves committee room when his aunt testifies | website=Las Vegas Sun | date=2011-03-02 | url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2011/mar/02/assemblyman-leaves-committee-room-whenever-his-aun/ | access-date=2024-03-17}}

Hansen currently serves as the Chairman of the Nevada Assembly's Judiciary Committee. In the 5 years he's held office Hansen has built an impressive legislative record. In 2011 Hansen codified his reputation as a 2nd Amendment leader by authoring AB217 which repealed restrictions on some firearm sales. AB217 passed unanimously and was signed by Governor Brian Sandoval.{{cite web|url=https://legiscan.com/NV/bill/AB217/2011|title=Nevada AB217 {{!}} 2011 {{!}} 76th Legislature|access-date=2016-09-20}} In 2015 Hansen sponsor legislation that allowed firearms to be carried and stored in family foster homes, in certain circumstances (AB167).{{cite web|url=https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/78th2015/Reports/history.cfm?ID=368|title=AB167|website=www.leg.state.nv.us|access-date=2016-09-20}}

Hansen has also been a staunch advocate for the federal government transferring control of land in Nevada back to the state. In 2013 Hansen passed AB227 which created the Nevada Land Management Task Force, with the goal of studying the transfer of federal land back to Nevada.{{cite web|url=https://www.leg.state.nv.us/session/77th2013/reports/history.cfm?ID=552|title=AB227|website=www.leg.state.nv.us|access-date=2016-09-20}} In 2015 following the findings of the study Hansen sponsored and passed SRJ1 and SRJ2 which first urged the United States Congress to transfer the title of some public lands to the state of Nevada and second required the federal government to share receipts from commercial activity on the land which the state and the counties in which the activities were performed.{{cite web|url=https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/78th2015/Reports/history.cfm?ID=34|title=SJR1|website=www.leg.state.nv.us|access-date=2016-09-20}}

Hansen has been endorsed by the National Federation of Independent Business in 2016 and 2015.{{cite web|url=https://votesmart.org/candidate/121908/ira-hansen#.V-HHFJMrKMI?&type=R|title=The Voter's Self Defense System|website=Project Vote Smart|language=en-US|access-date=2016-09-20}}

Hansen received a 100% rating from the NRA Political Victory Fund after they endorsed him in 2012 and gave him an "A" rating in 2011.{{cite web|url=https://votesmart.org/candidate/121908/ira-hansen?categoryId=&type=V,S,R,E,F,P,E,E&p=2#.V-HICZMrKMI|title=The Voter's Self Defense System|website=Project Vote Smart|language=en-US|access-date=2016-09-20}}

In March 2016 the Associated General Contractors honored Hansen as an outstanding community member.{{cite web|url=http://thisisreno.com/2016/03/associated-general-contractors-honors-outstanding-community-member/|title=Associated General Contractors Honors Outstanding Community Members|date=2016-03-04|access-date=2016-09-20}}

On November 7, 2014, Nevada Assembly Republicans named Hansen as their candidate for the chamber's next Speaker.

Following the announcement, the News Review's Dennis Myers conducted an extensive search of an estimated 800 columns Hansen wrote for the Sparks Tribune from 1994 through 2010, almost all of which were only available on microfilm. Myers had previously written articles exposing the racist and anti-Semitic legislator Pat McCarran, whom Hansen had defended.{{cite web|url=https://www.ralstonreports.com/blog/hansen-i-need-step-down |title=Hansen: "I need to step down" |publisher=Ralston Reports |date= 23 November 2014|accessdate=2022-05-18}}

In his columns, Hansen has written that the Oklahoma City bombing was a false flag operation orchestrated by the administration of President Clinton, that women do not belong in the United States Armed Forces, that President Obama is a "negro", that he owns and flies a Confederate battle flag, that gays are disproportionally prone to engaging in child abuse, that a "grossly disproportionate" number of crimes are committed by Latinos, and that the relationship between "Negroes and Democrats" is that of a "master-slave relationship with the benevolent master knowing what’s best for his simple minded darkies."{{cite web|url=http://www.newsreview.com/reno/on-paper/content?oid=15531962 |title=On paper Republican leader left a trail |publisher=News Review |date=November 20, 2014|access-date=November 20, 2014}}

Hansen's comments drew national attention.{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/20/ira-hansen-racist-sexist_n_6193592.html |title=Calling Nevada's Incoming Speaker Racist And Sexist Would Be A Huge Understatement |work=The Huffington Post |date=November 20, 2014|access-date=November 21, 2014}}{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2014/11/20/nevadas-new-assembly-speaker-has-a-long-history-of-controversial-comments-about-women-blacks-and-gays/ |title=Nevada's new Assembly speaker has a long history of controversial comments about women, blacks and gays |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=November 20, 2014|access-date=November 21, 2014 |first=Niraj |last=Chokshi}}{{cite web|url=http://www.salon.com/2014/11/20/simple_minded_darkies_meet_the_white_surpemacist_whos_about_to_be_nevadas_house_speaker/ |title="Simple-minded darkies": Meet the white supremacist who's about to be Nevada's House speaker |work=Salon |date=November 20, 2014|access-date=November 21, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2014/nov/20/ira-hansen-nevadas-incoming-assembly-speaker-under/ |title=Ira Hansen, Nevada's incoming Assembly speaker, under fire for racist comments |publisher=Las Vegas Sun |date=November 20, 2014|access-date=November 21, 2014}} Hansen apologized on November 20, saying that it was "unfortunate" that his comments had been "taken out of context" and "portrayed as intentionally hurtful and disrespectful", saying that "these comments made nearly 20 years ago" as an opinion columnist were "meant to be purposely provocative in various political, cultural and religious views."{{cite web|url=http://www.rgj.com/story/news/2014/11/20/naacp-calls-hansens-ouster-assembly-speaker/70022314/ |title=Update: Hansen 'sorry' after inflammatory columns highlighted |publisher=Reno Gazette-Journal |date=November 20, 2014|access-date=November 21, 2014}}

Hansen wrote an open letter on the press page of his website, saying "I freely admit my choice of words was at times very poor. As a columnist, I was encouraged to write provocatively but over the last 20 years I have learned that there is a line between being provocative and being offensive. There were times when I crossed that line. My intention was not to offend, and for any offense I have caused I again sincerely apologize." He also responded to specific things he had said.{{cite web | url=http://www.irahansen.com/#!press/ciml | title=Home }} He further claimed that "this has been a carefully orchestrated attack to remove a conservative Republican from a major leadership role in State government. The deliberate character assassination and the politics of personal destruction have totally distorted my views and record."{{cite web|url=http://www.ralstonreports.com/blog/hansen-i-need-step-down |title=Hansen: "I need to step down" |publisher=Ralston Reports |date= 23 November 2014|accessdate=2022-05-18}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120204201558/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700221404/Mormon-voters-a-key-in-Nevada--theyre-for-Romney.html Deseret News Feb. 2, 2012 article on Hansen's opposition to Mitt Romney in Nevada]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110603055205/http://www.irahansen.com/about.html Hansen campaign bio]
• [http://leg.state.nv.us/Assembly/Current/Assembly/Hansen.pdf Legislative bio of Hansen]

{{Nevada State Senators}}

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Category:1960 births

Category:Latter Day Saints from Nevada

Category:Living people

Category:Republican Party members of the Nevada Assembly

Category:Republican Party Nevada state senators

Category:Politicians from Reno, Nevada

Category:Radio personalities from Nevada

Category:American plumbers

Category:21st-century members of the Nevada Legislature