Explore The NRA Universe Of Websites

APPEARS IN Legal & Legislation

New Mexico: House Committee Approves HB 50, NRA-Opposed Legislation Criminalizing Private Firearm Transfers

Sunday, February 5, 2017

New Mexico: House Committee Approves HB 50, NRA-Opposed Legislation Criminalizing Private Firearm Transfers

Make Sure You Continue Contacting Your State Lawmakers in Opposition to HB 50 & SB 48

In spite of opponents clearly outnumbering supporters at Saturday's public hearing, the New Mexico House Consumer & Public Affairs Committee voted 3-1 to approve House Bill 50, NRA-opposed legislation banning private firearms sales and transfers sponsored by state Representative Stephanie Garcia Richard (D-Los Alamos) and being pushed by billionaire Michael Bloomberg’s national gun control group Everytown for Gun Safety.  State Reps. Eliseo Lee Alcon (D-Milan), Patricia Roybal Caballero (D-ABQ) and Deborah Armstrong (D-ABQ) all voted "yes" on the measure and the lone "no" vote was by state Rep. Bob Woolley (R-Roswell).

Earlier in the week, the Senate Public Affairs Committee approved an identical measure on a 5-3 party line vote.  Each measure now moves on to the Judiciary Committee of the respective chamber, but neither have been scheduled for a public hearing at this time. 

Please continue contacting your state Representative and urging them to OPPOSE HB 50.  Also keep calling and emailing your state Senator and asking them to OPPOSE SB 48.

Thank you to the NRA members who attended the hearing and spoke against this bill that will cost law-abiding citizens time, freedom and money.  We also appreciate the dedicated officers representing the New Mexico Sheriffs Association who testified that this measure would be unenforceable and do nothing to stop criminals.   It should also be mentioned that nearly a dozen House Republican Caucus members who don't serve on this committee attended the hearing this weekend to represent the views of their constituents who were unable to make the long drive to Santa Fe to oppose these bills: House Republican Whip Rod Montoya (Farmington), House Republican Caucus Chair Candy Ezzell (Roswell), State Rep. David Gallegos (Eunice), State Rep. Greg Nibert (Roswell), State Rep. Yvette Herrell (Alamogordo), State Rep. Rick Little (Chaparral), State Rep. Sharon Clahchischilliage (Kirtland), State Rep. Jim Townsend (Artesia), State Rep. Paul Bandy (Aztec), State Rep. Rebecca Dow (T Or C) and State Rep. Larry Larranaga (ABQ).

Everytown and the media continue to mislead lawmakers that this bill simply closes the non-existent “gun show loophole” and regulates online firearms sales.  In fact, this measure is far more expansive

Senate Bill 48House Bill 50 prohibits you from selling or gifting your firearms to any distant relatives, friends, neighbors, business associates, or fellow gun club members without government permission.  The bill would criminalize nearly all private firearm sales between individuals unless they are conducted through a licensed dealer involving extensive federal paperwork, background check and payment of an undetermined fee.  Licensed dealers maintain paperwork recording these transfers for twenty years and then turn it over to the federal government if they ever go out of business. 

SB 48/ HB 50 similarly restrict temporary firearm transfers or loans -- not just gun sales.  There are a limited number of exemptions, including transfers taking place exclusively at shooting ranges, while hunting or trapping, or during an organized competition or performance, or any time the transferor remains present the entire duration of the transfer.  These exemptions are confusing, raise serious questions about the bills’ scope, compliance and enforceability, and highlight the overreach of the measures.  Activities that could be criminalized under the bills without going through an FFL and obtaining government permission:

  • An individual loaning his or her significant other a handgun for self-protection when homes or apartments in her neighborhood have been burglarized;
  • A member of the military who is deployed overseas and wants to store his or her personal firearms with a trusted friend;
  • Someone borrowing their co-worker’s gun to take on a hunting trip, to the local range or to shoot on BLM land when the colleague cannot accompany him or her on the excursion.
  • Working ranch employees possessing and transporting ranch-owned rifles in vehicles or on their person.
  • Volunteers staging auction or raffle items for a non-profit, charitable fundraising event where a firearm is displayed.

SB 48/ HB 50 also require the return of loaned firearms to original owners be conducted through a licensed dealer, with completion of federal paperwork and payment of an undetermined fee. 

Please click the “Take Action” button above to contact your state lawmakers and urge them to oppose Senate Bill 48 and House Bill 50 when they come up for a vote.  To locate who represents you, click here.

TRENDING NOW
Biden’s Executive Order Targeting Gun Ownership

News  

Wednesday, March 15, 2023

Biden’s Executive Order Targeting Gun Ownership

On Tuesday, Joe Biden issued an executive order on gun control that could accurately be described as a mile wide and an inch deep.

Columnist thinks gun owners can be shamed out of their rights

News  

Monday, March 20, 2023

Columnist thinks gun owners can be shamed out of their rights

At least one of the joyless scolds that predominate in gun control circles thinks they’ve stumbled onto a novel anti-gun tactic. According to Colorado Newsline Editor Quentin Young, gun control supporters should try to shame gun ...

Updates to ATF Final Rule on Stabilizing Braces

News  

Monday, January 30, 2023

Updates to ATF Final Rule on Stabilizing Braces

On Monday, January 30, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ (ATF) published the final Factoring Criteria for Firearms with Attached “Stabilizing Braces” rule for public inspection in the federal register.

Florida: Senate’s Constitutional Carry Passes Committee

Thursday, March 9, 2023

Florida: Senate’s Constitutional Carry Passes Committee

Today, the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee voted 11-6 to approve Senate Bill 150, constitutional carry, with an amendment aligning the language with the House’s version. It will now go to the full Senate for further consideration.

U.S. Taxpayers Funding “Red Flag” Gun Confiscation Orders

News  

Monday, March 20, 2023

U.S. Taxpayers Funding “Red Flag” Gun Confiscation Orders

Texans are paying for so-called “Red Flag” gun confiscation orders in New York. North Carolinians are bankrolling Extreme Risk Protective Orders (ERPOs) in New Jersey. Louisianans are footing the bill for gun confiscation orders in Maryland.

Washington: Senate Committee Hearing California-Style Gun Ban & Waiting Period Bills

Friday, March 17, 2023

Washington: Senate Committee Hearing California-Style Gun Ban & Waiting Period Bills

On March 23rd, at 8:00AM, the Senate Committee on Law & Justice will hear House Bill 1240, a comprehensive gun ban bill, and House Bill 1143, to impose a waiting period and training mandate for acquiring ...

Michigan: Senate Passes Gun Control Schemes

Thursday, March 16, 2023

Michigan: Senate Passes Gun Control Schemes

Today, the Senate passed anti-gun bill packages to criminalize private transfers, require firearms be made unavailable for self-defense, and allow Second Amendment rights to be suspended without due process. They will now move to the House for further ...

Florida: House Passes Constitutional Carry

Friday, March 24, 2023

Florida: House Passes Constitutional Carry

Today, the House voted 76-32 to pass House Bill 543, the constitutional carry bill.

Florida: 2023 Session Convened, Senate Committee Hearing Constitutional Carry

Wednesday, March 8, 2023

Florida: 2023 Session Convened, Senate Committee Hearing Constitutional Carry

Yesterday, March 7th, the Florida Legislature began the 2023 legislative session. Tomorrow, at 9:00AM, the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee will hear Senate Bill 150, the Senate’s constitutional carry bill.

Washington: Updates on Anti-Gun Bills

Tuesday, February 28, 2023

Washington: Updates on Anti-Gun Bills

Three major anti-gun bills still remain active in the Legislature, while others are likely defeated for the session. The NRA provided testimony and strong, united opposition to these bills throughout the legislative process thus far.

MORE TRENDING +
LESS TRENDING -

More Like This From Around The NRA

NRA ILA

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.