New Mexico: With Just Two Weeks Left in Session, Many Gun Restrictions are Moving at the Roundhouse

Today the New Mexico Senate passed House Bill 9, by Rep. Pamela Herndon (D-ABQ), on a 24-16 vote. House Bill 9 creates back-door storage requirements by imposing criminal penalties on gun owners if a third-party minor accesses and brandishes or injures someone with their firearm. Firearm safety is something that is achieved through education, not punitive law that only comes into play after an accidental or intentional discharge occurs. HB 9 has no education or community outreach component and, instead, attempts to dictate how firearms must be stored in the home, vehicle or place of business -- giving criminals an advantage by limiting law-abiding citizens' access to firearms for protection. 

An amendment by Sen. Steve Neville (R-Aztec), which passed on a 20-19 vote, added an exemption to the bill for firearms obtained by minors with the authorization of a parent or guardian for lawful hunting, recreational or other lawful purposes.  

HB 9 must return back to the New Mexico House for a vote on whether to concur with Senate ​amendments.

On Sunday, March 5, the Senate Health & Public Affairs Committee will hold hearings on two extreme measures that target law-abiding citizens and the firearms industry:

Senate Bill 427 by Sen. Joseph Cervantes (D-Las Cruces), imposes a 14-day waiting period on all firearm purchases, with an exception for concealed handgun licensees. Like House Bill 100, this measure will add nothing to the existing FBI background check process and will only delay your ability to exercise your Second Amendment right to defend yourself, your family and your property. For more information on this proposal, click here.

Senate Bill 428 by Sen. Joseph Cervantes (D-Las Cruces) creates a hostile climate for lawful firearm-related industries and transactions by facilitating an increasing amount of litigation and claims, with vastly increased liability exposure and civil penalties, for even minor suspected violations of the terms of an FFL or the law as the basis for Unfair Trade Practices Act proceedings. For more information on this bill, click here.

Please contact SHPAC Committee members and urge them to OPPOSE SB 427 & SB 428.  Also, make plans to attend this hearing in-person, at 1:30pm on Sunday, in Room 311 of the Roundhouse or via zoom.  For public participation please click the link below to join the zoom webinar https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81287336647 or via telephone +1 719 359 4580, webinar ID: 812 8733 6647 

You can send written comments to the committee by emailing [email protected].

On Monday, March 6, the House Judiciary Committee could consider and vote on a committee substitute for House Bill 101 by Rep. Andrea Romero (D-Santa Fe), legislation that bans the manufacture, sale, purchase and possession of many semi-automatic firearms with detachable magazines that law-abiding citizens commonly own for self-defense, competition, and recreation, as well as certain attachments for them; bans magazines that are capable of holding more than 10 rounds; bans handguns with fixed magazines that can hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition and long guns with fixed magazines that can hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition; bans parts or combinations of parts from which such firearms can be assembled; and bans .50 BMG caliber firearms. Current owners of any of these firearms or items will have to register them with the New Mexico Department of Public Safety prior to March 1, 2024, to maintain possession, or transfer them out of state or to a federal firearm licensed dealer, or face criminal charges. The committee schedule for Monday is not posted on the New Mexico legislative website nmlegis.gov yet, so keep an eye out for that notice over the weekend.  The committee is NOT expected to take further public testimony on the measure at that time, but it is important that we still show up in opposition to this radical gun control proposal.

Please contact committee members and urge them to OPPOSE House Bill 101. Also, make plans to attend this hearing on Monday, at 1:30pm, in Room 309 at the Roundhouse, if the bill is posted over the weekend as part of the committee's agenda. You can also participate via zoom or monitor the hearing via the nmlegis.gov webcast.

When: March 6, 2023 1:30 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada) Topic: House Judiciary Committee Please click the link below 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