They have ZERO reason to run your gun. What if you were a peson from any other county in NV or any other state that does not have the reg scheme? It really is one more notch in metros belt of control over the citizen. I would have told them to pound sand before I let them run my gun. And then I would have left. Keep in mind that anything you can get at the show you can get cheaper here in town from folks like new frontier or lock and load etc. No parking fee or entrance fee from them and they allow loaded open carry as well.
Registration of course is only required of Clark County residents, so a resident of another county would be exempt. But you make a good point, would they still run the serial number if it would not be for the purpose of verifying a registration? And while they demand to see the blue registration card, they do not accept it as proof that the sidearm is currently registered to you and they run the number anyway.
As for them having "ZERO reason," are you able to state that as a matter of law? We are talking about a State run facility citing a state statute. As much as I am inclined to agree with you, and that it SHOULD be that way legally, I'd like to know for sure. What would happen if I gave my ticket to the ticket lady and when she told me I had to go to the gun check desk I just said "no thanks" and kept walking? And this test should be performed with both loaded and unloaded OC, depending on what the law actually reads. Has anybody tried to be a test case yet? I should have taken notes about what NRS was cited at the doors (which are posted there at all times, not just for gun shows, BTW.) Next time I drive through that part of town I will swing through the parking lot and take note.
Snow Jam was there last year but there was no gun check desk. And we aren't prohibited from OC'ing at the gun show, but told that we are restricted to UOC after a registration verification. The more you think about it, the more insane it seems. Maybe we form a line and swarm the door at the same time, refusing to submit to anything more than the law allows.
As for gun shows, I don't go there to buy things unless it is a old item that I don't run across at normal gun shops, it's mostly for the show. My most recent 1898 Krag rifle came from the Cashman gun show a couple years ago.
BTW, we probably know each other from ViMBAR or from the couple of times I've shot at the SubGun match. I recognize your handle from VegasShooters, I think. But there are a couple of Steves out there.