New Mexico: Gun Control Bills on the Move this Week in Santa Fe!

Updates on HB 9, HB 72, and SB 44

House Bill 9 by Rep. Pamela Herndon (D-ABQ), a bill that creates back-door storage requirements by imposing criminal penalties on gun owners if a third-party minor accesses and displays, brandishes or injures someone with their firearm, will be voted on by the full New Mexico House any day now. It is important that you keep contacting your State Representatives and urging them to OPPOSE HB 9. For more information on the legislation, click here. If you don't know who your State Representative is, click here.

On Friday, February 3, the House Judiciary Committee will hold a public hearing on House Bill 72, by Rep. Patricia Roybal Caballero (D-ABQ), legislation making it a felony to manufacture, use, possess or transfer attachments or devices which "increase the rate of fire" of semi-automatic firearms  This could include binary triggers and other accessories or modifications that are commonly-used to adapt the gun to the individual firearm owner. The "definitions" section of the measure is longer than the provisions setting out what is actually being criminalized under the act, a good indicator that the bill is confusing and will be difficult to implement or enforce. Please contact members of the House Judiciary Committee and urge them to OPPOSE HB 72. Also, make plans to attend this hearing in-person at 1:30pm in Room 309 of the State Capitol in Santa Fe on Friday and testify against this misguided proposal. You may also participate in this hearing via Zoom or phone, but the best way to make sure your voice is heard (as the committee almost always decides to limit testimony) is to be present in the hearing room!

Zoom Link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81793611432
Or One tap mobile: US: +12532050468,,81793611432# or +12532158782,,81793611432#

Yesterday the Senate Rules Committee advanced Senate Bill 44, by Sen. Peter Wirth (D-Santa Fe), on a 6-3 party-line vote. This measure bans the carrying of firearms within 100ft of any polling locations on Election Day or during early voting. These new "gun-free" zones would apply not only to voters, but also to customers or patrons of shopping centers and stores that serve as polling locations. Please thank Sens. Mark Moores (R-ABQ), Cliff Pirtle (R-Roswell) and Greg Baca (R-Belen) for attempting to exempt concealed handgun licensees from this prohibition, an amendment which also failed on a party line vote. This bill now moves to the Senate Judiciary Committee for consideration.