SANTA FE – Lawmakers are evaluating a wide-ranging package of proposals to impose new firearms restrictions in New Mexico.
Democrats hold large majorities in both chambers and have made gun legislation a priority this year.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, also called on lawmakers to take action during her State of the State address.
One proposal – a restriction on a straw purchase for a felon – has bipartisan sponsorship.
House Bill 9: Unlawful access to firearm by minor
What it would do: Make it a crime to store a firearm in a way that negligently disregards the ability of a minor to access it. Criminal charges could be brought only if the minor later brandishes or displays the firearm in a threatening way or uses it to kill or injure someone.
Where it stands: Awaiting action by full House. Approval there would send it to the Senate and Senate committees.
Sponsorship: Rep. Pamelya Herndon, D-Albuquerque; Senate President Pro Tem Mimi Stewart, D-Albuquerque; Rep. Patricia Roybal Caballero, D-Albuquerque; Sen. Antoinette Sedillo Lopez, D-Albuquerque; and Rep. Joanne Ferrary, D-Las Cruces.
Senate Bill 44: Ban firearms at polling places
What it would do: Prohibit carrying a firearm within 100 feet of a polling place during an election, with an exception for law enforcement.
Where it stands: Awaiting action by the Senate. Approval there would send it to the House and its committees.
Sponsorship: Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe.
House Bill 100: Waiting period for gun purchases
What it would do: Establish a 14-day waiting period for the purchase of a firearm. Ownership couldn’t be transferred to the buyer earlier than two weeks after submission of the federal instant background check.
Where it stands: Awaiting action by the House Judiciary Committee. Approval there would send it to the full House of Representatives.
Sponsorship: Reps. Andrea Romero and Linda Serrato, both Santa Fe Democrats
House Bill 101: Assault weapon ban
What it would do: Prohibit sale or possession of assault weapons and assault weapon attachments. The definition would cover AR-15-style rifles and semiautomatic rifles and handguns with certain characteristics.
People who owned the prohibited firearms before the law took effect could keep them but would face limits on where they could take them. They would have to submit paperwork to the state.
Possession would be permitted at firing ranges and sport shooting competitions
Where it stands: Awaiting action by the House Judiciary Committee. Approval there would send it to the full House of Representatives.
Sponsorship: Reps. Andrea Romero and Linda Serrato, both Santa Fe Democrats; Reps. Patricia Roybal Caballero and Eleanor Chávez, both Albuquerque Democrats; and Sen. Linda Lopez, D-Albuquerque.
Senate Bill 116: Age requirement
What it would do: Raise the minimum age to 21 for purchasing or possessing an automatic or semiautomatic firearm, with some exceptions.
Where it stands: Awaiting action by the Senate Judiciary Committee. Approval there would send it to the full Senate.
Sponsorship: Sen. Carrie Hamblen, D-Las Cruces
Senate Bill 171: Ban sale of automatic firearms
What it would do: Prohibit sale or transfer of semiautomatic pistols with certain characteristics; automatic firearms, such as machine guns; short-barrel rifles and shotguns; and hollow-point bullets or other ammunition designed to explode or segment on impact.
Where it stands: Awaiting action in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Approval there would send it to the full Senate.
Sponsorship: Sen. William Soules, D-Las Cruces
House Bill 306: Illegal straw purchases
What it would do: Prohibit buying a firearm for another person who is legally banned from the purchasing it on their own. It would be illegal, for example, to buy a gun for a felon.
Where it stands: Awaiting action in the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee. Passage there would send it to the House Judiciary Committee.
Sponsorship: House Minority Leader Ryan Lane, R-Aztec; Rep. Andrea Reeb, R-Clovis; and Rep. Raymundo Lara, D-Chamberino.
How a bill becomes a law
New proposals can still be introduced, and lawmakers are free to combine or reshape legislation as it moves through the Capitol.
Each of the gun bills has been assigned to two committees in its first chamber. If passed to the other chamber, the measure is usually again assigned to a committee or two.
Any change made by one chamber to the other’s legislation requires the bill to go back to the first chamber for agreement.
Lawmakers have until noon March 18 to grant final passage sending a bill to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.
Visit nmlegis.gov and enter the bill number into the bill finder to call up a proposal’s precise language and status.
