New Mexico Supreme Court Upholds Right-to-Carry

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FAIRFAX, VA -- In a tremendous victory for New Mexico`s law-abiding citizens, the state Supreme Court ruled today that the Right-to-Carry is valid under the state Constitution. The New Mexico Supreme Court denied the petitioner`s request to have the new Right-to-Carry law declared unconstitutional. And further, the Court refused to issue a stay preventing the law from being enforced. Right-to-Carry was signed into law by Governor Richardson last April and permits were issued beginning January 1, 2004. "This is a sound ruling by the New Mexico Supreme Court," said Chris Cox, NRA chief lobbyist. "The winners are the law-abiding residents of New Mexico, and the losers are the criminals. Right-to-Carry is needed because crime can strike anywhere. In fact, criminals often attack when they perceive victims to be at their weakest. That is why it is vital for all law-abiding New Mexicans to have an effective means of defending themselves and their loved ones from criminal harm." More than half of all Americans live in Right-to-Carry states. Despite ominous predictions by gun-ban groups, data shows that states with Right-to-Carry laws experience significantly less crime. The efforts of Senator Shannon Robinson and Representative John Heaton made it possible for Right-to-Carry to become law in New Mexico. And, as always, the grassroots efforts and political activism by tens of thousands of NRA members across the state played a pivotal role in this process. The 133-year-old National Rifle Association is the nation`s oldest civil rights group. NRA advocates enforcement of existing laws to prosecute and punish violent criminals. The NRA is the nation`s leader in teaching gun safety and promoting marksmanship among law enforcement officers. The Association has approximately 4 million members across America. --nra--