Reported by the Senate Public Affairs Committee Yesterday – Next Step is the Senate Judiciary Committee
On Tuesday, House Bill 77 - which would criminalize private firearms transfers at gun shows in New Mexico and require them to be conducted through federal firearms licensed dealers (FFLs) - was temporarily tabled by a 4-4 vote in the Senate Public Affairs Committee. This measure was returned on their agenda yesterday, voted out and sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Please contact members of the Senate Judiciary Committee TODAY and urge them to OPPOSE HB 77!
State Senator Daniel Ivey-Soto (D-ABQ) offered important amendments in committee on Tuesday that limited the fees dealers could charge for providing a National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) at a gun show to $25, repealed the state background check requirements at gun shows if Congress passes federal legislation regulating private transfers, prevented state or local agencies from developing a registry of lawful gun buyers under the new state background check requirements and made necessary technical corrections to the reporting requirements to NICS for records relating to prohibited firearm purchasers. On Tuesday, the Senate Public Affairs Committee voted to accept the first two, but not the latter two amendments.
Sen. Ivey-Soto then refused to support and report HB 77 because key amendments offering important protections to lawful gun purchasers were not adopted. He was supported in his efforts on these amendments to HB 77 and ultimately joined in his opposition to it by the three Republicans on this Committee: Sen. Craig Brandt (R-Rio Rancho), Sen. Gay Kernan (R-Hobbs) and Sen. Ron Griggs (R-Alamogordo).
Yesterday, bill sponsor Miguel Garcia (D-ABQ) acquiesced to all of the Ivey-Soto amendments and HB 77 then advanced to the Senate Judiciary Committee where it could be heard over this weekend or early next week.
Although HB 77 has been significantly amended with important protections for gun owners, it still criminalizes certain private firearms transfers, laying the groundwork for gun control advocates to come back next session and call for regulation of ALL private firearm transfers. Remember, that's how HB 77 started out!
The 2013 legislative session adjourns on Saturday, March 16, so it's critical that NRA members express opposition soon to this measure. Using the contact information provided below, please call AND e-mail members of the Senate Judiciary Committee NOW and urge them to OPPOSE HB 77. We will keep you informed when a committee hearing is scheduled on this measure.
Senate Judiciary Committee:
Senator Richard Martinez – Chairman
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Phone: (505) |
986-4487 |
Email: richard.martinez@nmlegis.gov
Senator Joseph Cervantes – Vice Chairman
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Phone: (505) |
986-4385 |
Email: Joseph@cervanteslawnm.com
Senator Ron Griggs
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Phone: (505) |
986-4276 |
Email: ron.griggs@nmlegis.gov
Senator Linda Lopez
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Phone: (505) |
986-4737 |
Email: linda.lopez@nmlegis.gov
Senator Cisco McSorley
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Phone: (505) |
986-4389 |
Email: cisco.mcsorley@nmlegis.gov
Senator John Ryan
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Phone: (505) |
986-4373 |
Email: john.ryan@nmlegis.gov
Senator Michael Sanchez
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Phone: (505) |
986-4727 |
Senator Lisa Torraco
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Phone: (505) |
986-4266 |
Email: lisa.torraco@nmlegis.gov
Senator Peter Wirth
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Phone: (505) |
986-4861 |
Email: peter.wirth@nmlegis.gov
Senator William Payne
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Phone: (505) |
986-4703 |
Email: william.payne@nmlegis.gov
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