Senate Acts, House Fails: Lawmakers Stall SB 17 While New Mexico Suffers 3rd Highest Gun Death Rate in U.S.
SANTA FE, NM — As the 2026 New Mexico legislative session comes to a close, New Mexico Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action released the following statements condemning the House of Representatives for its shameful refusal to advance SB 17, critical gun violence prevention legislation, despite overwhelming public support.
“House lawmakers failed at their most fundamental duty: protecting the lives of kids like me desperate to grow up without the fear of gunfire ringing out at any moment,” said November Rowe, a volunteer leader with the Sandia High School group of Students Demand Action. “If the House thinks we’ll go away because the session is over, they’ve grossly underestimated our fury. We are the ones ducking for cover, and we will be the ones at the ballot box.”
“New Mexicans are dying while the House plays political games with their lives,” said Cheryl Haase, lead with the New Mexico chapter of Moms Demand Action. “Our state has the third highest gun death rate in the country and House lawmakers responded by abdicating any responsibility to address the gun trafficking supply chain that is fueling gun violence and they failed to get assault weapons off our streets. Our communities deserve leaders who will put public safety first – not cowards who hide behind the clock and table life-saving legislation. Voters have long memories, and we will remember exactly who turned their backs on us when it mattered most.”
Gun violence remains one of the most urgent public safety challenges facing New Mexico, as New Mexico has the fifth highest gun homicide rate in the country. SB 17 would have addressed one of the most dangerous gaps in New Mexico’s gun laws: the ease with which traffickers and irresponsible dealers can move guns – including sniper rifles and assault weapons – into the illegal market with little accountability. January polling found overwhelming, bipartisan support among New Mexicans for cracking down on gun trafficking and strengthening gun safety laws, underscoring strong public backing for SB 17.