More than 90 bills were filed ahead of the New Mexico legislative session, including one that aims to disqualify individuals with juvenile gun-related offenses from obtaining firearms as adults.Rep. Kathleen Cates, the sponsor of the bill, said it is important because it provides accountability.Under House Bill 25, adults who had a juvenile disposition for a delinquent act involving the use of a firearm would be prohibited from buying, carrying, or possessing a firearm or a destructive device. This would apply if the juvenile disposition occurred within the last 10 years. This restriction would not apply if the person was pardoned. Once the 10-year period is over, the person can a firearm. If caught with a gun, the person could face a third-degree felony, equivalent to the charge for a felon caught with a firearm. The bill also seeks to expand background checks to include juvenile records involving gun-related offenses during firearm checks. “It gives another tool in the toolbox for law enforcement if they have stopped an individual that they have concerns about and they are possessing a weapon. This puts another tool in the toolbox to be able to hold them accountable,” Cates said.The House Republicans issued a statement saying, “HB 25 takes a small step in acknowledging New Mexico has a violent juvenile crime problem, but it still does not go far enough. New Mexico’s juvenile crime crisis is being fueled by a system that refuses to hold young offenders accountable. If you are violent enough to terrorize a community, your juvenile record should not disappear, and public safety should come first.”If passed, the bill would go into effect on July 1.
More than 90 bills were filed ahead of the New Mexico legislative session, including one that aims to disqualify individuals with juvenile gun-related offenses from obtaining firearms as adults.
Rep. Kathleen Cates, the sponsor of the bill, said it is important because it provides accountability.
Under House Bill 25, adults who had a juvenile disposition for a delinquent act involving the use of a firearm would be prohibited from buying, carrying, or possessing a firearm or a destructive device. This would apply if the juvenile disposition occurred within the last 10 years. This restriction would not apply if the person was pardoned. Once the 10-year period is over, the person can a firearm.
If caught with a gun, the person could face a third-degree felony, equivalent to the charge for a felon caught with a firearm. The bill also seeks to expand background checks to include juvenile records involving gun-related offenses during firearm checks.
“It gives another tool in the toolbox for law enforcement if they have stopped an individual that they have concerns about and they are possessing a weapon. This puts another tool in the toolbox to be able to hold them accountable,” Cates said.
The House Republicans issued a statement saying, “HB 25 takes a small step in acknowledging New Mexico has a violent juvenile crime problem, but it still does not go far enough. New Mexico’s juvenile crime crisis is being fueled by a system that refuses to hold young offenders accountable. If you are violent enough to terrorize a community, your juvenile record should not disappear, and public safety should come first.”
If passed, the bill would go into effect on July 1.
