Last night, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved House Bill 77 - which would criminalize private firearms transfers at gun shows in New Mexico and require them to be conducted through federal firearm licensed dealers (subject to fees) - by a 6-4 party-line vote. This legislation now goes to the Senate floor for consideration with just one day left in the 2013 legislative session.
Although HB 77 contains some good language such as requiring improved reporting of persons prohibited from purchasing firearms to the FBI and protecting against the development of any registry of lawful gun buyers by state or local agencies, make no mistake: gun control remains the centerpiece of this very flawed bill. This will be just the first step towards banning ALL private gun sales and transfers - in fact, that's exactly what the original language of HB 77 did when it was introduced! Once the gun control advocates check this scheme off their list, they will move toward gun bans and magazine limits, just like in Colorado.
The legislative session ends at noon tomorrow. It is critical you call AND e-mail your State Senator IMMEDIATELY and urge him or her to OPPOSE HB 77. Please forward this alert to your family, friends and fellow gun owners in New Mexico and urge them to do the same. Be sure to be direct, but polite when expressing your opposition.
To find your State Senator and his or her contact information, click here.
According to an internal U.S. Department of Justice memorandum, "universal" background checks will not work without requiring gun registration. Read the memo and get the facts here.
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