Don't know but suspect a paper trail for any sales that go through the federal background check. Otherwise no gun registry in NM that I know of. Checking with Tijeras Slim on these.
The paper trail of a background check cannot enforce this law. Think of it this way. You are a cop and you suspect someone is in violation of this new transfer law. How do you prove they got the gun illegally from another state resident, unless you can prove who possessed what guns on the beginning date of the law?
If the state does not know what guns I possess and what guns you possess, I can sell you one. I could buy one of yours. They say “look, no paper trail from a fed background check”. You say I bought that one before the law passed.
Nobody will ever be able to prove a thing without a registration list. And that is where this is leading.
There is no registration in NM now. But this law is impossible to enforce without one unless you catch someone in the act.
Although the politician says she’s interested in “sales”, the bill has not changed and would bar almost all “transfers” without a check (including loaning a buddy a hunting gun, handing another shooter at the range a gun to try unless you remain constantly in their presence.
It is similar to the law passed in NV recently which local law enforcement said is unenforcible. (Our NM Sheriffs have spoken out similarly). Also, NICS will not process these checks, as the FBI has deemed them a misuse of federal resources for state purposes.
Tomorrow there will be several groups headed to Santa Fe as the bill is before the Judiciary Committee. They plan to follow the anti-gun people around and speak to representatives after they do (the anti’s arguments are all emotion). Our contingent is from SASS (Single Action Shooting Society) and has a number of people who did this successfully in CA when it was headquartered there. They have a plan, materials, good arguments.
By focusing on the “transfer” side, they hope to peel a number of rural Democrats away. It’s a hard uphill climb, but these folks have experience. They even helped change some gun laws in Australia on a visit there.
They keep talking about extending background checks to private sales, but if it’s going through an FFL, it’s not a private sale. IOW, they outlaw private sales. And that I can’t support.