SANTA FE — Domestic abusers would have to surrender their firearms under legislation heading to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.
The proposal, Senate Bill 328, would prohibit gun possession by someone who’s subject to an order of protection under the Family Violence Protection Act. The prohibition would also apply to people convicted of certain crimes, such as battery on a household member.
It passed the House 38-31 just before midnight Friday.
Opponents of the bill said people could lose their guns based on a false allegation, without adequate legal protections.
Supporters said the measure would help protect families.
“When a gun is present in a situation of domestic violence, it is five times more likely that a woman will be killed,” Democratic Rep. Deborah Armstrong of Albuquerque said.
She jointly sponsored the bill with Democratic Sens. Joseph Cervantes of Las Cruces and Antoinette Sedillo Lopez of Albuquerque.
