New Mexico: House Narrowly Passes Gun Owner Liability Legislation

More Anti-Gun Bills Up for Hearings on Friday

On Thursday afternoon, the New Mexico House of Representatives passed House Bill 9, firearms owner liability legislation, on a 37-32 vote.  The measure now moves to the New Mexico Senate for committee referrals and hearings.  Please begin calling your State Senators in opposition to HB 9.  To find out who your State Senators are click here: Find My Legislator - New Mexico Legislature (nmlegis.gov).

On Friday, February 10, at 1:30pm, in Room 309 of the State Capitol, the House Judiciary Committee will hold a public hearing on a proposed committee substitute for House Bill 72, a ban on the transfer or possession of "semi-automatic converter devices." This bill was heard in this committee last Friday and was held over for further work.  The committee substitute does not exempt machineguns that are registered under the National Firearms Act, so lawfully-registered parts such as auto sears would be banned outright by the bill.  And because the definition of "automatic fire" in the substitute includes "recoil" in the list of things that can actuate the trigger, even semiautomatic firearms than can be bump fired might fit that definition and parts that make bump firing easier (like match triggers) would therefore fit the definition of "semiautomatic firearm converter." Make plans to attend this hearing THIS AFTERNOON in-person or via Zoom:

You are invited to a Zoom webinar. 

When: February 10, 2023, 1:30pm Mountain Time (US and Canada) 

Topic: House Judiciary Committee 

Please click the link to join the webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81793611432 

Or One tap mobile: US: +12532050468, 81793611432# or +12532158782, 81793611432# 

Webinar ID: 817 9361 1432

Please contact members of the HJC committee TODAY and urge them to OPPOSE HB 72: Standing Committees - New Mexico Legislature (nmlegis.gov)

The public hearing for HB 224 and HB 238 was canceled that was scheduled for today, Saturday, February 11, at 9:00 am at the State Capitol​. HB 224 makes it a fourth degree felony to carry a firearm within the jurisdiction of a municipality having a population over 90,000 while under the influence of an intoxicant or narcotic, including in one's home or on one's private property.  Current law already makes it unlawful (a petty misdemeanor) to carry a firearm while under the influence of an intoxicant or narcotic.  HB 238 makes it a fourth degree felony to discharge a firearm in a densely populated area (an undefined term), with no exceptions for self-defense or indoor shooting ranges.  Current law already contains penalties for negligent use of a firearm, including discharging a firearm into any building or vehicle so as to knowingly endanger a person or his property, endangering the safety of another by handling or using a firearm in a negligent manner, or discharging a firearm within 150 yards of a dwelling or building without the permission of the owner.   ​

Please contact members of the CPAC committee TODAY and urge them to OPPOSE HB 224 & HB 238: Standing Committees - New Mexico Legislature (nmlegis.gov)

Updated: February 11, 2023