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.
H.B. 9 felonizing New Mexicans who do not lock up their guns is an absolute abomination! If an intruder has broken into my house during the night, I should not have to “unlock” my weapon in order to protect myself and my family.
It only applies if a child accesses your weapon and then hurts someone. If this is the only gun bill to make it through, we are fortunate. My weapons, except “home defense” are locked up at all times. But I have plenty of firepower available at all times. The bill, as far as I know, does not demand you keep all your guns locked up at all times. I hate these socialist SOB’s as much as you do but pick your fights and do not let them get to you. You are not alone in your frustration.
Pick your fights? When are we going to stop compromising on losing our rights? Enough is enough.
I totally agree Steve!
Yes, we might get lucky and “dodge a bullet” this year. (pun intended) However, this anti-gun movement will return year after year after year. NM is in a race with California to be the most firearm-unfriendly state in the union. The left is more than willing to take 3 steps forward by passing blatantly unconstitutional laws, only to take two steps back as sections, or whole laws, are declared unconstitutional and overturned. Liberals have taken to include in the legislation a clause that says if a section of the law is overturned it does not invalidate the rest of the law. So they wind up a net one step closer to a total gun and ammunition ban. Liberals play the long game and are more than willing to take 3 steps forward and two steps back each and every year to eventually get what they want.
This is why my family and I are making plans to leave New Mexico for a more firearm-friendly state. The only variable in that move is how fast we might have to make the move, or can we take our time and really investigate places to move to, that all depends on legislation from Santa Fe. Sooner or later the NM government is going to wonder where all the firearm stores, other retailers, and tax-paying citizens have disappeared to as they attack retailers of all kinds with egregious regulations and laws.
New Mexico is quickly being steered by the governor and her cohorts in a direction in which we have no interest.
Sadly, the bottom line is we ARE going to leave New Mexico.
This legislative session lasted 31 days too long!! Some of the idiotic ideas these people have come up with concerning guns and other stuff just makes me shake my head! It’s time to end the Loserjan Regime and remove all of her cronies!
Where do we find such stupid people? Once found, why do we elect them?
There are so many more people killed by alcohol or cars than by all guns – killed by cirrhosis, by drunk and stupid, by drunk driving, by drunken picking on the wrong person – why aren’t these genius leaders picking on the distillers, automakers or brewers? Could it be the commies have their orders from China to disarm America by hook or by crook.
These damned commies need to review their oath to protect and defend the Constitution before We the People decide to rise up and give them some lessons in freedom.