ICYMI: New Mexico Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action Volunteers Take Over the Capitol as Gun Safety Legislation Moves in the Roundhouse 

SANTA FE, N.M. — The New Mexico chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots network, issued the following statements following a week of action in Santa Fe. This comes as gun safety bills have gained momentum in the Roundhouse. 

“Last week, we showed that momentum is on our side. Now the real work begins,” said Diana Villareal, a volunteer with the New Mexico chapter of Moms Demand Action. “Thanks to the advocacy of our volunteers we have flipped the narrative around gun safety in New Mexico. From requiring background checks on all gun sales to extreme risk laws, lawmakers have heeded the call of gun safety advocates in recent years – but the work is far from done. As chaos takes over in Washington, we cannot wait any longer to ban assault weapons. We must pass SB 279 into law and save lives.” 

Here’s an overview of the momentum for gun safety in Santa Fe: 

• Introduced: Last week Senator Debbie O’Malley introduced SB 279, known as GOSAFE. The legislation prohibits the manufacture and sale of assault weapons and high capacity magazines. It also creates the state’s first law banning machine guns and bans dangerous machine gun conversion devices, like Glock switches. SB 279 brings New Mexico state laws into the 21st century by addressing head-on the most dangerous firearms and devices on the market.

• Strong support to ban assault weapons: Last week, Everytown for Gun Safety unveiled new polling that showed 64% of respondents support this new effort to regulate assault weapons focused on the gun’s internal mechanisms, instead of external features.

• Momentum Brewing: Last Thursday, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action held their annual advocacy day where they took over the Roundhouse and over one hundred volunteers made their voices heard. During the press conference, chapter leader Becky Cox presented nearly 900 signatures on a petition to ban assault weapons to Senator Debbie O’Malley calling on a ban on assault weapons and to pass SB 279. 

• Off to the Floor: Last week, HB 12 (Rep. Garrett): Extreme Risk Firearm Protection Order Changes, advanced the House Judiciary Committee and now it will go to the House floor for full consideration. If passed, the legislation will allow law enforcement officers to file ERPO petitions when they think someone is at risk of  harming themselves or others, without needing to wait for a reporting party to request the order.

Last session, New Mexico became the first state in the nation to advance  novel GOSAFE legislation,  modeled after Senator Heinrich’s federal bill, which prohibits the sale, transfer, and receipt of gas-operated semi automatic firearms and large-capacity magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition. This includes weapons commonly used in mass tragedies, and military-style rifles that, especially when paired with large-capacity magazines, allow mass shooters to unleash destructive, rapid-fire barrages on unsuspecting victims in seconds. Last year, lawmakers in the House advanced the GOSAFE bill. This session, lawmakers will have another opportunity to vote for this lifesaving legislation. 

The rate of gun deaths has increased 59% from 2014 to 2023 in New Mexico, compared to a 34% increase nationwide. In an average year, 526 people die by guns. With a rate of 25.2 deaths per 100,000 people, New Mexico has the 3rd-highest rate of gun deaths in the US. More information about gun violence in New Mexico is available here. 

To speak with a New Mexico Moms Demand Action or Students Demand Action volunteer, about gun safety legislation in the Roundhouse, please reach out to [email protected].