New Mexico: Santa Fe City Council Votes Down Gun Magazine Ban on a 6-2 Vote

Last night, citing concerns about enforceability and the potential for a lawsuit based on a violation of the firearms preemption clause in the state constitution, the Santa Fe City Council defeated Bill 2013-27.  If enacted, this local ordinance would have outlawed the future possession, sale or transfer of standard capacity magazines that are compatible with commonly-owned self-defense pistols and rifles used by recreational and competitive shooters.

Opponents testifying against this proposed ordinance outnumbered supporters by more than 2-1.  They included NRA members, representatives from the New Mexico Shooting Sports Association and the New Mexico Gun Owners Association, concealed handgun instructors and permit holders, industry representatives from The Outdoorsman of Santa Fe (which closed early so that employees and customers could attend the hearing), state and local Republican party officials, art gallery owners, lab workers with high-level security clearances, local realtors and our honored veterans.  Santa Fe prides itself on diversity, and the pro-Second Amendment witnesses who attended last night’s hearing represented a cross-section of city residents and concerned citizens from outlying areas.

Voting AGAINST this proposed ordinance were city councilors Bill Dimas, Carmichael Dominguez, Peter Ives, Christopher Rivera, Ronald Trujillo and Rebecca Wurzburger.  Voting FOR this flawed proposal were city councilors Patti Bushee and Chris Calvert.  Please contact the six city councilors who voted against this measure and thank them for respecting the state constitution and recognizing the unenforceability of this misguided ordinance.  Their contact information is provided below. 

Several city councilors called on the New Mexico Legislature to act on this issue.  You may recall from previous NRA-ILA alerts that a similar bill (House Bill 402 by anti-gun state Representative Stephen Easley, D-Eldorado) was just narrowly defeated in committee during the sixty-day legislative session at the Roundhouse this year.  You can be sure this measure will re-surface in the future at the state level, so New Mexico gun owners and sportsmen need to continue to stand guard against this attack on our Second Amendment rights in the Land of Enchantment.

Santa Fe City Council:

Pattie Bushee

District 1

505-955-2345

pjbushee@santafenm.gov

Webpage:  Councilor Bushee

Chris Calvert

District 1

505-955-6812

ccalvert@santafenm.gov

Webpage: Councilor Calvert

Peter N. Ives

District 2

505-955-6816

pnives@santafenm.gov

Webpage: Councilor Ives

Rebecca Wurzburger

District 2 and Mayor Pro Tem

rdwurzburger@santafenm.gov

Webpage: Councilor Wurzburger

Carmichael Dominguez

District 3

(505) 955-6814

cadominguez@santafenm.gov

Webpage: Councilor Dominguez

Christopher Rivera

District 3

(505) 955-6818

cmrivera@santafenm.gov

Webpage: Councilor Rivera

Bill Dimas

District 4

505-955-6817

bdimas@santafenm.gov

Webpage: Councilor Dimas

Ronald S. Trujillo

District 4

505-955-6811

rstrujillo@santafenm.gov

Webpage: Councilor Trujillo