SNOWFALL. TIME IT OUT JUST A BIT. FIRST, BACK TO SASHA BYRON. THANK YOU. THERE ARE JUST THREE DAYS LEFT IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND LAWMAKERS ARE TRYING TO MAKE ONE FINAL PUSH TO GET SEVERAL BILLS PASSED. ONE OF THE MORE CONTROVERSIAL BILLS, THE SENATE BILL 17, WHICH ADDRESSES GUN CONTROL. REPORTER COREY HOWARD JOINS US LIVE FROM SANTA FE TO BREAK DOWN THAT BILL. CORI. YEAH, THAT’S RIGHT. SASHA. ADVOCATES OF THE BILL SAY THAT IT WOULD TAKE SOME OF THE MOST DANGEROUS GUNS OFF THE STREETS, WHILE OPPONENTS ARGUE IT’S UNCONSTITUTIONAL. TO STOP. ILLEGAL GUN TRADE ACT ADDRESSES TWO COMPONENTS OF GUN CONTROL. FIRST, THE BILL AIMS TO HOLD GUN DEALERS TO A HIGHER STANDARD. THE NEW RULE WILL FORCE GUN STORES TO INSTALL SECURITY CAMERAS AND KEEP ALL RECORDINGS FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS. THE STORE WOULD ALSO ONLY BE ALLOWED TO HIRE EMPLOYEES AGES 21 OR OLDER, WHO WOULD HAVE TO PASS A STATE CREATED TRAINING PROGRAM. WE HAVE CRIMES COMMITTED WITH GUNS. 77% OF THOSE GUNS ARE PURCHASED AT THE. AT THE FIRST POINT IN A LEGAL GUN STORE. SO WHO IS RESELLING THESE TO CRIMINALS? HOW CAN WE RAISE THE FLAGS? THIS CREATES A SECURITY AND SURVEILLANCE FRAMEWORK SIMILAR TO WHAT WE SEE IN A CANNABIS STORE. IT ALSO BANS THE SALE OF WHAT AUTHORS CALL THE MOST DANGEROUS WEAPONS. GUNS LIKE AR 15, AK 47 AND OTHER SEMIAUTOMATIC RIFLES WOULD NO LONGER BE SOLD IN THE STATE. GAS OPERATED SEMI-AUTOMATIC WEAPONS THAT HAVE SPECIFIC MECHANISMS THAT CREATE MASS ATROCITY, ESSENTIALLY, THAT WERE DESIGNED FOR WAR. THOSE ARE THE WEAPONS THAT WE’RE TARGETING. SB 17 IS PROBABLY THE MOST EGREGIOUS BILL I’VE EVER SEEN IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. STATE REPRESENTATIVE STEPHANIE LORD SAYS SHE RECEIVED 85,000 PETITIONS REGARDING SENATE BILL 17. THIS IS JUST ANOTHER BILL TO PENALIZE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST LEGITIMATELY OWNING THEIR FIREARMS, GOING ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS. DO YOU SEE A CASE WHERE SENATE BILL 17 EVENTUALLY MAKES ITS WAY ALL THE WAY UP TO SUPREME COURT? I COULD BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE SUPREME COURT HAS YET TO DEAL WITH THE SECOND AMENDMENT ISSUES. WE’VE SEEN THAT THERE ARE TEN OTHER STATES THAT HAVE ASSAULT WEAPONS, LIKE LEGISLATION ALREADY ON THE BOOKS. THEY’VE BEEN CHALLENGED IN MANY, MANY COURTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING FEDERAL DISTRICT COURTS, AND HAVE BEEN UPHELD. NOW, THE BILL IS SCHEDULED FOR A HEARING IN T
New Mexico lawmakers push controversial gun control and immigrant safety bills
With only three days left in the legislative session, New Mexico lawmakers are working to pass Senate Bill 17, which addresses gun control, and the Immigrant Safety Act, which has already been signed into law. Advocates of Senate Bill 17 argue it will remove dangerous guns from the streets, while opponents claim it is unconstitutional. The “Stop Illegal Gun Trade Act” aims to hold gun dealers to higher standards by requiring security cameras in stores and mandating that employees be at least 21 years old and pass a state-created training program.”When we have crimes committed with guns, 77% of those guns are purchased at the first point in a legal gun store. So, who is reselling these to criminals?” Andrea Romero, a state representative for Santa Fe County, said.The bill also seeks to ban the sale of certain semi-automatic rifles, including AR-15s and AK-47s. “So, gas-operated semi-automatic weapons that have specific mechanisms that create mass atrocity, essentially that were designed for war? Those are the weapons that we’re targeting,” Romero said.State Rep. Stefani Lord from Bernalillo and Torrance County expressed strong opposition, saying, “SB 17 is the most egregious bill I’ve ever seen in the history of the United States.”She noted receiving 85,000 petitions regarding the bill. “This is just another bill to penalize the people who are just owning their firearms, going about their business,” Lord said.Lord also suggested the bill could reach the Supreme Court, stating, “I could because the Supreme Court has yet to deal with the Second Amendment issues.”Another perspective highlighted that similar legislation exists in ten other states and has been upheld in various courts. “We’ve seen that there are ten other states that have assault weapons. Like legislation already on the books. They’ve been challenged in many, many courts across the country, including federal district courts, and have been upheld,” Romero said.The bill is scheduled for a hearing in the House Judiciary Committee tonight. If it passes, it will proceed to the full House for a floor vote.Meanwhile, the Immigrant Safety Act, signed into law by the governor, prevents state and local entities from entering contracts with ICE, potentially leading to the closure of detention centers in New Mexico. “We’re, I think, celebrating as a state right now about where we stand in our values, as New Mexicans and with our immigrant neighbors who have felt so targeted and so unsafe in the wake of ICE activities and operations,” Romero said.However, the act faces pushback from counties with ICE detention facilities, such as Otero, Torrance, and Cibola, which could lose revenue and jobs. State Rep. John Block from Otero County expressed concern, saying, “We have about $16.5 million that is still bonded on our ICE facility. And that legislation effectively closes it. So, we lose out on millions of dollars in our future bonding, and that also means that our credit rating goes down, and so taxpayers, regular people are getting hurt by this.”Block anticipates litigation, stating, “I expect counties to sue. So, I’m sure that the Supreme Court is going to be weighing in on this or the district courts.”Despite potential challenges, supporters remain confident. “I think we’re very, in a very good position. If anyone wants to challenge that constitutionally or the laws of New Mexico, they’re all fair game. But I think we’re in a very strong position to defend our values and our laws,” Romero said.The Immigrant Safety Act, signed into law on Feb. 5, is set to go into effect in 90 days.
With only three days left in the legislative session, New Mexico lawmakers are working to pass Senate Bill 17, which addresses gun control, and the Immigrant Safety Act, which has already been signed into law. Advocates of Senate Bill 17 argue it will remove dangerous guns from the streets, while opponents claim it is unconstitutional. The “Stop Illegal Gun Trade Act” aims to hold gun dealers to higher standards by requiring security cameras in stores and mandating that employees be at least 21 years old and pass a state-created training program.
“When we have crimes committed with guns, 77% of those guns are purchased at the first point in a legal gun store. So, who is reselling these to criminals?” Andrea Romero, a state representative for Santa Fe County, said.
The bill also seeks to ban the sale of certain semi-automatic rifles, including AR-15s and AK-47s.
“So, gas-operated semi-automatic weapons that have specific mechanisms that create mass atrocity, essentially that were designed for war? Those are the weapons that we’re targeting,” Romero said.
State Rep. Stefani Lord from Bernalillo and Torrance County expressed strong opposition, saying, “SB 17 is the most egregious bill I’ve ever seen in the history of the United States.”
She noted receiving 85,000 petitions regarding the bill.
“This is just another bill to penalize the people who are just owning their firearms, going about their business,” Lord said.
Lord also suggested the bill could reach the Supreme Court, stating, “I could because the Supreme Court has yet to deal with the Second Amendment issues.”
Another perspective highlighted that similar legislation exists in ten other states and has been upheld in various courts.
“We’ve seen that there are ten other states that have assault weapons. Like legislation already on the books. They’ve been challenged in many, many courts across the country, including federal district courts, and have been upheld,” Romero said.
The bill is scheduled for a hearing in the House Judiciary Committee tonight. If it passes, it will proceed to the full House for a floor vote.
Meanwhile, the Immigrant Safety Act, signed into law by the governor, prevents state and local entities from entering contracts with ICE, potentially leading to the closure of detention centers in New Mexico.
“We’re, I think, celebrating as a state right now about where we stand in our values, as New Mexicans and with our immigrant neighbors who have felt so targeted and so unsafe in the wake of ICE activities and operations,” Romero said.
However, the act faces pushback from counties with ICE detention facilities, such as Otero, Torrance, and Cibola, which could lose revenue and jobs. State Rep. John Block from Otero County expressed concern, saying, “We have about $16.5 million that is still bonded on our ICE facility. And that legislation effectively closes it. So, we lose out on millions of dollars in our future bonding, and that also means that our credit rating goes down, and so taxpayers, regular people are getting hurt by this.”
Block anticipates litigation, stating, “I expect counties to sue. So, I’m sure that the Supreme Court is going to be weighing in on this or the district courts.”
Despite potential challenges, supporters remain confident. “I think we’re very, in a very good position. If anyone wants to challenge that constitutionally or the laws of New Mexico, they’re all fair game. But I think we’re in a very strong position to defend our values and our laws,” Romero said.
The Immigrant Safety Act, signed into law on Feb. 5, is set to go into effect in 90 days.
