By Dave Workman
Editor-in-Chief
In a narrow 22-17 vote Saturday, the Democrat-controlled New Mexico State Senate passed Senate Bill 17, a measure described by the National Rifle Association as a “sweeping gun control bill” which would place new restrictions on firearms dealers, prohibit ammunition magazines holding more than 10 rounds and ban “gas-operated” semi-auto firearms.
The measure now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration, with not much time remaining in this years legislative session.
According to the Santa Fe New Mexican, there were rallies of Second Amendment activists and gun control proponents at the Capitol Saturday. The New Mexico Shooting Sports Association organized the pro-rights gathering while anti-gunners gathered in the Rotunda for a rally organized by Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action.
SB 17—which may be read here—essentially follows similar legislation adopted in other Democrat-controlled states. State Rep. Andrea Romero (D-Santa Fe), a sponsor of the bill, repeated the kind of rhetoric used by gun prohibitionists in other states, declaring the targeted semi-auto firearms were “designed for murder and war.” Such firearms are owned legally by millions of American citizens who use them for all kinds of purposes, including varmint and predator hunting, competition and recreational shooting.
On the other side, State Sen. Crystal Brantley (R-Elephant Butte) was quoted by KOAT News observing, “This is not a partisan issue because protecting our Second Amendment rights and standing for the Constitution shouldn’t be a partisan issue at all. When lawmakers arrive in Santa Fe, we swear an oath to the Constitution of the United States and to the New Mexico Senate. So to knowingly vote against the Constitution is an abandonment of our duties as lawmakers.”
According to the NRA, SB 17 “would unconstitutionally strip law-abiding New Mexicans of their Second Amendment rights by banning common gas-operated semiautomatic firearms, .50-caliber rifles, and magazines holding more than ten rounds under the guise of labeling them “extremely dangerous weapons.”
Further, the gun rights organization asserts in an alert to members that SB 17 “compromises the privacy of lawful citizens through centralized record-keeping of purchaser identities and firearm serial numbers, while threatening dealers with felony charges for minor or technical compliance errors.”
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has reportedly promised to sign the legislation if it comes to her desk. Quoted by the Los Alamos Reporter, Gov. Grisham asserted, “This bill holds gun dealers to the same basic standards expected of any responsible business—securing inventory, training employees, and preventing illegal sales. This is common-sense legislation that will save lives and make our state a better place to raise a family.”
However, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican, State Rep. Stefani Lord (R-Sandia Park), spoke to gun owners at the Saturday rally, reminding them she predicted anti-gunners would be coming after their gun rights, and now they are.
