Senate passes gun bill after lengthy debate (New Mexico Senate trashes 2nd amendment)

The Albuquerque Journal ^ | February 7, 2026 | Matthew Reisen

[CedarDave]

After a sometimes heated six-hour debate and a few failed amendments, the New Mexico Senate passed a gun bill that aims to stop firearms from getting into the wrong hands and ban the sale of certain types of weapons.

With a 21-17 vote, Senate Bill 17 now heads to the House for approval. Sens. Joseph Cervantes of Las Cruces, Benny Shendo Jr. of Jemez Pueblo and Angel Charley of Acoma Pueblo were the lone "no" votes among Democratic lawmakers.

All Republican senators voted in opposition.

Senate Bill 17 would require licensed gun dealers to keep inventory records and implement security measures, similar to those placed on state-authorized recreational cannabis dispensaries.

The bill, sponsored by several Democratic lawmakers, including Sens. Debbie O'Malley and Heather Berghmans, both of Albuquerque, would also ban the sale or possession of certain "military-grade weapons," including machine guns and gas-operated semiautomatic firearms.

In a statement after the bill's passage, Senate Minority Leader William Sharer, R-Farmington, said, "Today, Democrats in Santa Fe decided that the rights of New Mexicans to protect themselves and their families should be eliminated."

"Listen to the words they say, they have repeatedly admitted this bill is unconstitutional, yet they are forcing it upon law-abiding citizens," he said. "New Mexicans deserve to be represented by elected officials who take their oaths of office seriously, not by activists who hate our Constitution and who promote fringe radical policies designed to undermine the very foundation of our Nation."

Sen. David Gallegos, R-Eunice, and Block both said the bill would hurt small businesses by saddling them with additional costs to meet requirements.

Sen. Jim Townsend, R-Artesia, said the bill did nothing to help public safety. “This may make you feel good, but don’t get real comfy, because this doesn't do anything to stop crime,” he said.

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TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Government; US: New Mexico
KEYWORDS: 2ndamendment; banglist; commies; crime; lengthydebate; newmexico; secondamendment

[CedarDave]

The bill now goes to the New Mexico House which is even more populated with radical left-wing Democrat representatives than the Senate is. As it is on the Governor's fast-track list, it will get priority in House committees. The session ends in just eleven days (noon, Thursday February 19). One possibly positive note is that if it amended in the house, it would have to go back to the Senate for concurrence and could get jammed up there due to last minute horse-trading.

Check on the link for the full article; sometimes the ABQ Journal allows a small number of free articles.

[CedarDave]

Here is the link to the bill and senate actions: SB-17 "STOP ILLEGAL GUN TRADE ACT" The bill that passed is the SJC Committee Substitute.

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[chopperk]

Seems NM will join a socialist gov’t quickly,

[Seaplaner]

The bill, sponsored by several Democratic lawmakers, including Sens. Debbie O'Malley and Heather Berghmans, both of Albuquerque, would also ban the sale or possession of certain "military-grade weapons," including machine guns and gas-operated semiautomatic firearms.

Maybe an expert can help me here, does this mean all gas-operated semiautos?

Would this include M1 Garands from WW2 and I think a large number of rifles that are not mil rifles?

All ARs?

[CedarDave]

I’m not an expert, but my reading of the definitions is Yes to all of your questions.

[desertsolitaire]

This will succesfully be appealed to higher courts, no?

[FlingWingFlyer]

A lot of cowards live in New Mexico. That’s why they ran away from Mexico when their beloved government told them to get their asses out of the country. They didn’t learn a damn thing. They elected an angry broad and are going to let the angry banshee steal their guns. Merry Cinco de Mayo Amigos.

[FlingWingFlyer]

The question will now go, red? green? or YELLOW? The banana peppers go good with rice.

[Revel]

I thought that the USSC had taken care of this issue somehow.

[Bob434]

Take a GOOD LOOK at England NM Because you are headed in that direction rapidly! Better stock up on steak knives and hope you get grandfathered in when they ban knives too

[Mr. Blond]

Ignore laws, print gunz.

[MrBambaLaMamba]

: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”.

And taxation is theft.

[vetvetdoug]

The American Legion Post in Belen, NM, is named after T/Sgt Segundo “Dean” Baldonado who was killed at Bien Hoa AFB, RVN, in May of 1965. His family and ours were close as our Fathers were USAF crew chiefs for the RB-57’s and B-57’s. It is sad that the state “Dean” served faithfully is so far off base with our freedoms.