Editorial: Take Displays of Guns Out of the Roundhouse

It’s legal but is it sensible?

Packing heat is A-OK inside New Mexico’s Capitol, but it doesn’t have to be. Guns are prohibited inside many places, such as federal buildings, schools and bars.

If you have business in Metro Court in Bernalillo County you can’t get as much as a cellphone past the checkpoint, so forget about a weapon. That makes sense. Angry defendants, plaintiffs and their families often erupt in shouting matches when decisions are announced or sentences imposed. Imagine the potential mayhem if some of them were armed.

The state Capitol is open to the public. Halls are crowded with legislators, lobbyists, activists, reporters, TV crews and just plain observers. Schoolchildren arrive by the busload to see how government works.

It’s just not an appropriate venue for weapons on open display inside the building. That doesn’t mean they should be prohibited on the grounds outside, especially as part of a demonstration.

New Mexico is one of only four states that allow open carry and concealed carry in their state capitols. It’s time to quit that club, especially for open carry.

This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers.