Push to Criminalize Private Firearms Transfers At NM Gun Shows Saga Continues

Reported by the Senate Public Affairs Committee Yesterday – Next Step is the Senate Judiciary Committee.

New Mexico Capitol Building
Push to Criminalize Private Firearms Transfers At NM Gun Shows Saga Continues
NRA-ILA
NRA – ILA

Charlotte, NC –-(Ammoland.com)- On Tuesday, House Bill 77 – which would criminalize private firearms transfers at gun shows in New Mexico and require them to be conducted through federal firearms licensed dealers (FFLs) – was temporarily tabled by a 4-4 vote in the Senate Public Affairs Committee.  This measure was returned on their agenda yesterday, voted out and sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Please contact members of the Senate Judiciary Committee TODAY and urge them to OPPOSE HB 77!

State Senator Daniel Ivey-Soto (D-ABQ) offered important amendments in committee on Tuesday that limited the fees dealers could charge for providing a National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) at a gun show to $25, repealed the state background check requirements at gun shows if Congress passes federal legislation regulating private transfers, prevented state or local agencies from developing a registry of lawful gun buyers under the new state background check requirements and made necessary technical corrections to the reporting requirements to NICS for records relating to prohibited firearm purchasers.  On Tuesday, the Senate Public Affairs Committee voted to accept the first two, but not the latter two amendments.

Sen. Ivey-Soto then refused to support and report HB 77 because key amendments offering important protections to lawful gun purchasers were not adopted.  He was supported in his efforts on these amendments to HB 77 and ultimately joined in his opposition to it by the three Republicans on this Committee: Sen. Craig Brandt (R-Rio Rancho), Sen. Gay Kernan (R-Hobbs) and Sen. Ron Griggs (R-Alamogordo).

Yesterday, bill sponsor Miguel Garcia (D-ABQ) acquiesced to all of the Ivey-Soto amendments and HB 77 then advanced to the Senate Judiciary Committee where it could be heard over this weekend or early next week.

Although HB 77 has been significantly amended with important protections for gun owners, it still criminalizes certain private firearms transfers, laying the groundwork for gun control advocates to come back next session and call for regulation of ALL private firearm transfers.  Remember, that’s how HB 77 started out!

The 2013 legislative session adjourns on Saturday, March 16, so it’s critical that NRA members express opposition soon to this measure.  Using the contact information provided below, please call AND e-mail members of the Senate Judiciary Committee NOW and urge them to OPPOSE HB 77.  We will keep you informed when a committee hearing is scheduled on this measure.

 

Senate Judiciary Committee:

 

Senator Richard Martinez – Chairman

Phone: (505)

986-4487

Email: [email protected]

 

Senator Joseph Cervantes – Vice Chairman

Phone: (505)

986-4385

Email: [email protected]

 

Senator Ron Griggs

Phone: (505)

986-4276

Email: [email protected]

 

Senator Linda Lopez

Phone: (505)

986-4737

Email: [email protected]

 

Senator Cisco McSorley

Phone: (505)

986-4389

Email: [email protected]

 

Senator John Ryan

Phone: (505)

986-4373

Email: [email protected]

 

Senator Michael Sanchez

Phone: (505)

986-4727

 

Senator Lisa Torraco

Phone: (505) 986-4266

Email: [email protected]

 

Senator Peter Wirth

Phone: (505)

986-4861

Email: [email protected]

 

Senator William Payne

Phone: (505)

986-4703

Email: [email protected]

About:
Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the “lobbying” arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Visit: www.nra.org

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Sue B

Dale – When Obama-Care goes into effect, HIPAA will go out the window. Obama-Care is going to require ALL medical records be computerized and available to the government for oversight. Does that give you some idea of just how over-reaching and intrusive this administration is trying to make the government? That is just one of the problems with Universal Background Checks. The Powers-That-Would-Like-To-Be are trying to get as much information about each and every citizen as they can. To what end? Control – plain and simple. If they know you own a gun and they have access to your medical… Read more »

Dale

In Iowa they have the HEPA form you sign when your treated by a doctor. That information can only be given out to someone checking your background if you sign a form allowing them to check you. This would include your background check for a license to carry open or concealed.

VT Patriot

Jeffrey, first of all, thank you for your service. The problems are many with this kind of thinking. Yes, we all have to go thru NCIS checks when we buy a gun thru an FFL. No problem. But, I won’t be able to sell (or give?) my grandson my 22 rifle that he loves without having him go thru a background check? The term ‘background checks’ is a growing term. I’m all in favor of mental folks not getting guns, but this means that all folks who have had any ‘mental disorder’ will have to be reported to the ncis.… Read more »

Jeffrey

Whats the big deal on background checks?? I had to go through background checks on all my firearm purchases including at the gun show I went to. I bought 2 AR-15 lowers and he called the check system , no big deal to me! As far as private sale background checks why not have certain people who are allowed to do that??? Have a standard set rate of $25 and this person does all the paperwork required etc aleviating the gun salesman who is worried about lost sales because of the increased time having to spend with private gun sales… Read more »

Becker

Screw the laws. If they can’t keep up with a few criminals they can’t keep up with over a million in one state. Let the tie up billion or trillions of dollars while the economy goes to hell. If they want to see the country go to hell in a bread basket, so be it.

Bill Baker

Just saying they can only charge $25 for a NICS check doesn’t mean they will. A lot of dealers could refuse to perform the checks, and who could really blame them much, taking time away from their own sales etc…