Today, Senate Bill 17, the omnibus gun control bill, was heard in the House Judiciary Committee and Senate Bill 261, expanding gun free zones around ballot drop boxes and polling places, was heard in the House Government Affairs Committee. Neither bill received a vote, however the committees may take action at any time.
With the final days of session upon us, it's critical that Second Amendment supporters engage. Use the TAKE ACTION button or phone number listed below to contact members of the committees and urge their OPPOSITION to SB 17 and SB 261.
SB 17 or "Stop Illegal Gun Trade and Extremely Dangerous Weapons Act" represents a radical unconstitutional overreach that bans commonly owned gas-operated semiautomatic firearms and standard-capacity magazines, directly violating the Second Amendment’s "common use" standard. This legislation imposes vague, costly, and duplicative "site hardening" mandates on law-abiding small businesses already heavily regulated by the ATF, while creating a direct conflict with federal law by attempting to commandeer federal records to establish a state-level gun registry. Most alarmingly, the act forces dealers into a "zero tolerance" trap that violates the Fifth Amendment by compelling annual certifications under threat of felony charges for technical paperwork errors, ensuring that this misguided bill—which ignores the fact that retail theft accounts for a mere 0.2% of crime guns—will face immediate and certain legal challenges.
Contact Members of the House Judiciary Committee Today:
Chair: Christine Chandler, (505) 986-4411
Vice Chair: Andrea Romero, (505) 986-4327
Ranking Member: Andrea Reeb, (505) 986-4215
Michelle Paulene Abeyta, (505) 986-4254
Nicole Chavez, (505) 986-4214
William A. Hall II, (505) 986-4336
Dayan Hochman-Vigil, (505) 986-4777
Alan T. Martinez, (505) 986-4758
Javier Martínez, (505) 986-4782
Matthew McQueen, (505) 986-4423
Reena Szczepanski, (505) 986-4777
SB 261 represents a significant infringement on the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding New Mexicans by transforming polling locations into expanded "gun-free zones" where self-defense is criminalized. Most alarmingly, the bill strikes the existing exemption for thousands of responsible citizens who hold a valid concealed handgun license, effectively disarming them the moment they step within the new, arbitrary 100-foot and 50-foot "no-carry" buffers around polling doors and ballot containers. The legislation also hamstrings law enforcement, replacing their broad authority to carry in the line of duty with a restrictive requirement that their presence must be specifically "requested" by an election official to maintain order or respond to an emergency. By expanding the definition of a "firearm" to include a mere "frame or receiver," this bill targets law-abiding owners with petty misdemeanor charges for carrying even non-functional parts, creating legal traps for citizens while doing nothing to deter actual criminals.
Contact Members of the House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs Committee Today:
Chair: D. Wonda Johnson, (505) 986-4433
Vice Chair: Charlotte Little, (505) 986-4432
Ranking Member: John Block, (505) 986-4453
Janelle Anyanonu, (505) 986-4435
Cynthia Borrego, (505) 986-4236
Tara L. Lujan, (505) 986-4236
Angelita Mejia, (505) 986-4467
Reena Szczepanski, (505) 986-4777
Martin R. Zamora, (505) 986-4211
Please stay tuned to the NRA-ILA website and your inbox for updates as session draws to a close.
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