OPINION: Gun restrictions put responsible owners at risk

In New Mexico, owning a firearm isn’t just a right — it’s a way of life. Whether it’s hunting in the Gila Wilderness, competing at the local range or protecting our families at home, responsible gun ownership isn’t just tradition — it’s necessity. I’m not just speaking as a gun owner. I’m speaking as someone who’s seen firsthand how our state treats law-abiding gun owners like criminals, while actual criminals walk free.

As the leader of the New Mexico Shooting Sports Association (NMSSA), I’ve heard story after story from our members: Ranchers forced to defend livestock from predators, families relying on firearms in areas where police are miles away and sportsmen passing along firearm safety skills to their kids. These are the people lawmakers are targeting with proposals like so-called “assault weapon” bans, red flag laws and expanded gun-free zones. But these proposals miss the point entirely.

A recent poll shows what New Mexicans already know: Crime isn’t driven by responsible gun owners — it’s driven by criminals. Seventy-six percent of voters blame violent crime on the people committing the crimes, not the firearms they misuse. Only 21% think guns are the problem. That’s not a small difference — that’s a landslide.

And yet, instead of focusing on enforcement, some politicians want more restrictions. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is pushing a special legislative session to pass gun control measures, but the support just isn’t there. The poll found voters nearly evenly divided: 46% in favor, 44% opposed to more gun control. That’s hardly a mandate for more laws that punish responsible citizens.

When voters were asked what’s behind New Mexico’s crime problem, “family instability and moral decline” topped the list. Guns came in near the bottom. People understand that broken homes, untreated mental illness and a weakened justice system fuel violence — not the guns sitting in locked safes across the state.

This hits home for me. Our NMSSA members talk about the fear they feel — not fear of their neighbors, but fear of a justice system that won’t protect them. Sixty-four percent of voters say more gun control will only hurt law-abiding citizens while criminals ignore the rules. And why wouldn’t they? Courts are letting repeat offenders back on the streets and police response times stretch into hours in rural areas. Criminals know they’re in control.

That’s why voters overwhelmingly support enforcing existing laws. Fifty-nine percent rate enforcement of gun laws as “very poor.” The message couldn’t be clearer: Stop letting violent offenders slip through the cracks and quit blaming honest gun owners for their crimes.

And while we’re at it, let’s be honest about what these policies really mean. “Assault weapon” bans focus on cosmetic features, not functionality. Red flag laws risk violating due process, taking firearms away from people based on accusations rather than actual convictions. Expanded gun-free zones? Those only create soft targets, leaving families defenseless in places criminals already target.

Eighty-one percent of New Mexicans say the Second Amendment helps protect their families. It’s a reminder that in New Mexico, self-reliance isn’t optional. Whether you’re in Albuquerque or out in the remote stretches near Silver City, the right to protect yourself matters.

At NMSSA, we’ll keep fighting for your rights — not because it’s what the Constitution guarantees, but because it’s what commonsense demands. New Mexicans don’t want more restrictions. We want safer streets, stronger enforcement and leaders who understand that criminals — not firearms — are the real threat.

Zachary Fort is the president of New Mexico Shooting Sports Association.