Many Dem anti-gun bills facing likely death as legislature wraps up
As of Thursday, the New Mexico House and Senate have passed one anti-gun bill that has been sent to Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham for a signature — H.B. 9 felonizing New Mexicans who do not lock up their guns.
However, other anti-gun bills are waiting in the legislature waiting for either the House or Senate to take action.
S.B. 44, sponsored by Sen. Peter Wirth (D-Santa Fe), bans citizens from carrying a firearm within 100 feet of a polling place during an election, including absentee ballot drop boxes. There are no exceptions for concealed carry or for having a firearm in one’s car within 100 feet of that polling location. The bill has passed through the Senate but still awaits action by the House to approve it.
S.B. 428 by Sen. Joseph Cervantes (D-Doña Ana), which targets firearm retailers and manufacturers, is an “attempt to circumvent the Federal Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act through New Mexico’s Unfair Practices Act. The bill would try [to] make it easier to sue a firearm manufacturer or retailer in New Mexico,” according to the New Mexico Shooting Sports Association. The bill would still need to advance from House Judiciary Committee and then be passed by the full House, which is unlikely.
H.B. 100 and 101 by Rep. Andrea Romero (D-Santa Fe) have yet to advance to the full House. H.B. 101, which is to mandate a 14-day waiting period before firearm purchases, has not been scheduled for a floor vote.
H.B. 100, which would make most New Mexico gun owners felons by labeling their firearms over 10-round capacities “assault weapons,” has not been scheduled for House Judiciary Committee. Due to the late date, it is likely dead since it has not even passed through one house.
A similar bill in the Senate, S.B. 427 By Cervantes and Romero, has yet to pass through the full Senate.
S.B. 116 by Sen. Carrie Hamblen (D-Doña Ana) would mandate a person must be 21 to purchase a firearm. The bill is still stuck in the Senate Judiciary Committee and is likely dead since it has not even passed through the full Senate chamber yet.
On Saturday, March 18, 2023, at 12:00 noon, the 2023 Legislative Session will end, where the final results will show if Democrats can successfully ram through any other anti-gun bill before the clock runs out.