New Mexico Moms Demand Action, Everytown Respond to Members of the New Mexico Congressional Delegation Voting on H.R. 38, the Disastrous “Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017”
12.6.2017
Reckless Concealed Carry Reciprocity Legislation Would Undermine State Gun Laws, Allow People With Dangerous Histories and No Training to Carry Hidden, Loaded Handguns in Public
SANTA FE, N.M. – Volunteers with the New Mexico chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today released the following statement after Reps. Ben Ray Lujan and Michelle Lujan Grisham voted against H.R. 38, the disastrous “Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017,” which passed out of the House of Representatives today. Unfortunately, Rep. Steve Pearce voted in favor of this short-sighted legislation.
Concealed carry reciprocity is a chaotic and dangerous policy that would gut state gun laws and make communities in New Mexico less safe. Right now, every state sets its own standards for who can carry a hidden, loaded handgun in public. In New Mexico, a person must complete firearm safety training and have live fire experience in order to carry a hidden, loaded handgun in public. New Mexico also blocks abusive dating partners and people with violent misdemeanor convictions from carrying concealed handguns in public. But concealed carry reciprocity would force each state to recognize the concealed carry standards of every other state, including those with weaker standards, or no standards at all.
STATEMENT FROM CHARLIE MOORE-PABST, VOLUNTEER WITH THE NEW MEXICO CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA:
“Concealed carry reciprocity is a dangerous proposal that would gut the common-sense gun laws New Mexico has enacted, which is exactly why our attorney general spoke out against it. I am grateful that Reps. Ben Ray Lujan and Michelle Lujan Grisham voted against this gun lobby priority. Unfortunately, Rep. Steve Pearce voted for concealed carry reciprocity, putting gun lobby profits ahead of public safety. We remain committed to stopping this legislation in the Senate and holding politicians who support it accountable in 2018.”
From our nation’s law enforcement community to mayors, opposition to concealed carry reciprocity is widespread. Last month, a group of 17 attorneys general – including New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas – released a letter opposing the policy. The National Law Enforcement Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence, which includes many of the nation’s largest law enforcement organizations, and the bipartisan U.S. Conference of Mayors have also opposed concealed carry reciprocity. Earlier this week, the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys wrote a letter to Congress urging them to oppose concealed carry reciprocity.
Additionally, a Pew survey released in June found that 81 percent of Americans oppose allowing people to carry concealed weapons without a permit. Concealed carry reciprocity would force states to allow concealed carry by many people with no permit.