Anti-gun nuts try to strike final death blow to NM gun industry with latest push

The Piñon Post ^ | December 4, 2025 | Piñon Post staff

[CedarDave]

New Mexico’s anti-gun politicians are again taking aim at lawful firearms dealers, pushing a proposal that Second Amendment advocates warn could deliver the “final death blow” to the gun industry by criminalizing shops for crimes committed by others.

For longtime Albuquerque gun dealer Arnie Gallegos, the narrative pushed by these lawmakers is far removed from reality. Gallegos, who has owned ABQ Guns for 15 years, already keeps a vigilant eye out for anything suspicious. “If they’re buying, like, 15 ARs, or they’re ordering an AR every week or something like that, that’s kind of a red flag,” he said. If the buyer can’t explain the purchase, he cuts it off: “I’m sorry, we’re not going to be able to do business anymore.” He added that doing the right thing is not just about regulations—“it’s good for the community.”

But instead of targeting criminals, progressive lawmakers are preparing a sweeping bill that would target people like Gallegos—FFLs who already comply with every federal rule imaginable. At a virtual event hosted by the national gun-control group Everytown for Gun Safety, Rep. Andrea Romero and Sen. Heather Berghmans, both Democrats, revealed they are drafting legislation to increase penalties and requirements on gun stores. Behind closed doors, they intend to mandate new employee training programs, enhanced inventory surveillance, and new restrictions on what firearms can be sold—even though lawful gun dealers are already one of the most regulated sectors in the country.

Romero accused unnamed “bad actors” of repeatedly selling guns that end up in crimes, claiming they operate “without any sort of accountability whatsoever,” despite offering no evidence and ignoring the fact that knowingly selling a gun for a criminal purpose is already a felony under federal and state law.

Gun-control activists with Everytown argued that states must take the lead because the ATF supposedly “stepped back,” with adviser Marianna Mitchem asserting, “They got them from licensed gun stores.” What she did not mention: virtually every legal gun in America comes from a licensed dealer because that is how the system is designed. Their argument simply shifts blame from actual criminals to small, family-owned businesses.

Gun rights groups are sounding the alarm. Zachary Fort, president of the New Mexico Shooting Sports Association, said he has “not seen any pullback on regulation,” emphasizing that FFLs already operate under suffocating federal scrutiny. Rep. Stefani Lord said legitimate gun stores cannot afford even a single misstep: “Everybody I know is trying to do their best to make sure these guns don’t get in the hands of criminals.”

Gun dealer and New Mexico Firearms Industry Association president Erik Rasmussen echoed that point, noting the absurdity of the proposal: “To make 30 bucks or 40 bucks, to lose your license, your livelihood, and get thrown in jail—it’s absolutely not worth it.” Rasmussen said the real threat comes from gun theft, not lawful sales, pointing out that his own store has been burglarized.

Yet Everytown claims that 78% of crime guns in the state originated at licensed dealers—an obvious statistic given that nearly all firearms legally sold in the U.S. must come from a dealer. Their claim that one-third were “likely funneled” through trafficking is speculative at best, and Rasmussen flatly rejected it: “Knowingly selling a gun to a person that is buying it for somebody else — I would say that nobody in the industry is doing that.”

The New Mexico Shooting Sports Association warned on X: “Anti gun politicians in NM are cooking up a new gun control proposal that would criminally charge a FFL for any straw purchase that happens at their store.”

Rep. Stefani Lord blasted the concept: “Punishing the gun stores for not being psychic, but never punishing the criminals! Where do progressives dream up these crazy bills? Checks from Gifford? Soros? Moms Demand Attention?”

This looming proposal would effectively require gun stores to predict the future. As NMSSA put it, an FFL cannot possibly know whether a perfectly legal buyer is secretly acting as a straw purchaser. But that’s precisely the trap anti-gun radicals want: make compliance impossible, then punish the people they already despise.

If Democrats succeed, the burden of criminal liability will shift away from violent offenders and onto lawful gun dealers—turning New Mexico’s firearms industry into a politically convenient scapegoat. It’s not about safety. It’s about control. It’s about shutting down gun stores one regulation at a time.

And that was the goal all along.

[CedarDave]

The NM legislative session starts in about five weeks. It is a 30-day session which means only financial-related bills may be introduced. However, if the governor believes other measures require legislative action, he/she may allow such bills. Bills to deal with crime are likely this year and this could come under that agenda. NM residents, be alert and let your legislators know if this latest gun grab is on the table for action.

[CedarDave]

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[Zathras]

The Supreme Court has already ruled several times denying it.
The kooks never give up.

[philman_36]

The gun stores will close down, move out of State, people will cross the borders
to other States to buy guns and NM will gain no income from the lost business.

Stupid people are in charge there.

[LastDayz]

New Mexico should be next on the list for ICE as well as the NG. Cartels are running rampant over there.

[MileHi]

These people have no idea what they are talking about but it makes them feel important to just “do something” even if it solves nothing.

[MileHi]

people will cross the borders to other States to buy guns

Not so easy to purchase handguns.

[lgjhn23]

“...The kooks never give up....”

Their AWFULs and cucks are insane. They belong in an asylum, NOT govt.

[sport]

But there are a lot of them in Government.

[556x45]

The problem dems are trying to solve isn’t gun related crime. Their goal is to make it as onerous as possible for the law abiding to keep/bear arms. Dems have no problem with guns. Their issue is that you can have them too.

[ridesthemiles]

THAT THEORY LEAVES A PERSON TO SUE A CAR MANUFACTURER IF A GUY DRIVES DRUNK..

OR A LIQUOR DISTILLERY

EXCEPT OF COURSE-—WHEN THE DRUNK IS A RACCOON———

[philman_36]

Not so easy to purchase handguns.

Then that makes it even worse for NM.
If people feel strongly enough about their 2nd Amendment rights they may very well
leave the State, further weakening it from revenue loss.
Adding in the inevitable rise in crime, for as we all know crooks
WILL get guns one way or another, this action will ruin NM financially.

JMO, YMMV

[philman_36]

I'll have to take your word for it. I've not read up on the issue over there.
I know we need them in Houston!

[july4thfreedomfoundation]

So, when are they going to criminalize liquor stores for selling booze if a buyer of liquor drinks and drives and causes a fatal car crash?

[bankwalker]

They’ve been doing that to bar owners for decades.

[MileHi]

If people feel strongly enough about their 2nd Amendment rights they may very well leave the State

Yeah, maybe. I've been in CO all my life but I'd like to leave now. But I can't even imagine moving, let alone somewhere I've never been and where would that be? And all out folks are here.

[DesertRhino]

” Rep. Andrea Romero and Sen. Heather Berghmans, both Democrats”

New Mexico is utterly infested with under 40 females with Ivy or Stanford etc on the resume. They come back as well funded and trained revolutionary socialists.
The Democrats are near supermajorities in the House and Senate. Both have female majorities.
There is a female governor, and a female Sec of State.

The New Mexico US Congressional delegation is 2 woman and an anchor baby homo. One of the females was an employee of Ghislane Maxwell until she was arrested. The US Senate delegation is another homo and a hard core democrat that lives in Maryland.

New Mexico is done. There is no hope there anymore of sanity.

[redfreedom]

I could be wrong on this, but I think it’s illegal to buy a gun out of state. You can buy one out of state, but the transfer must be made in your home state with a licensed FFL dealer.

Now if you purchase a gun from an individual under the table, then no one will know.

[DesertRhino]

“You can buy one out of state, but the transfer must be made in your home state with a licensed FFL dealer.”

Yes, and the sale must conform to the rules of your home state. For example, a dealer may not sell someone a type of firearm prohibited in the home state of the buyer. And yes, the gun must be transferred to an FFL in your state.

[philman_36]

But I can't even imagine moving, let alone somewhere I've never been and where would that be?

I've had the luxury of visiting about a dozen States for work and even though I'm Texas born and bred I could pick another State if it came down to it. Most of my immediate family is gone so I don't have that worry. The rest are distant relatives, in both distance and familiarity.
Probably too old for it now though and my wanderlust nature has just about played out, but if push came to shove I'm gone. I'd road travel and live out of a trailer if necessary.

Don't fence me in.