New Mexico -- Legislature Passes Right To Carry!

A lot happened the last few days of session before the State Legislature called it quits at noon on Saturday, March 22! Last Thursday evening, the New Mexico House voted to pass both SB 23, NRA-backed Right To Carry legislation sponsored by Sen. Shannon Robinson (D-Albuquerque), on a 50-19 vote, and HB 916, the companion House bill sponsored by Rep. John Heaton (D-Carlsbad), on a 50-18 vote.

At around 6pm on Friday, the New Mexico Senate voted to concur with House amendments to SB 23, sending the bill to Governor Bill Richardson for his expected signature. The Senate ran out of time to complete action on HB 916.

Thanks to all of you who made phone calls to your lawmakers and who took the time to travel to Santa Fe and testify at one of the five committee hearings held on these bills. You should soon be able to view a copy of SB 23 as passed at www.state.nm.us .

As this bill moved through five different committees (four of which were chaired by opponents of the measure), and two separate floor votes, the bill sponsors fought hard to defeat unfavorable amendments. The end product is an enormously positive step forward for law-abiding New Mexicans. And like we have done in every other Right To Carry state, NRA-ILA will continue working, with your grassroots support, to improve the law in the future.

Special thanks go out to the bills` sponsors, Sen. Robinson and Rep. Heaton, for their active support for the bill. Without their hard work and commitment to seeing Right To Carry become law in New Mexico, we would not have been successful.

Please take the time to send them an email thanking them for their efforts this session!

Sen. Shannon Robinson (D-Albuquerque)
shannon.robinson@state.nm.us

Rep. John Heaton (D-Carlsbad)
jheaton@caverns.com