SANTA FE, N.M. — The New Mexico chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action issued the following statement after the House Judiciary voted to advance HB 129 and HB 27. The measures that now head to the floor of the House, seek to create a waiting period for firearm purchases and strengthen the state’s Extreme Risk protection law.
“New Mexico families are counting on our lawmakers to send these bills to the Governor’s desk,” said Elaine Miller, a volunteer with the New Mexico chapter of Moms Demand Action. “For far-too-long we have witnessed first hand how gun violence has torn apart our communities while gun lobby-backed legislators have stood in the way of progress in Santa Fe. Now, lawmakers have an opportunity to send a clear message and save lives. We look forward to continuing working with our gun sense champions in the House and getting these bills across the finish line.”
More on the gun safety bills heading to the House floor:
- Firearm Sale Waiting Period Crimes, HB 129 (Rep. Romero): This legislation strengthens the state’s gun safety laws by creating a 14-day waiting period on all firearm purchases. It also prohibits gun stores from finalizing sales until the background check is completed.
- Extreme Risk Firearm Protection Order Act, HB 27 (Reps. Chandler and Garratt): This legislation allows law enforcement officers and health care professionals to report warning signs so that law enforcement can seek an extreme risk protection order.
In an average year, 492 people die by guns. With a rate of 23.4 deaths per 100,000 people, New Mexico has the 6th-highest rate of gun deaths in the US. The rate of gun deaths has increased 80% from 2012 to 2021 in New Mexico, compared to a 39% increase nationwide. More information about gun violence in New Mexico is available here.