Democrats’ gun grab collapses as major anti-2A bills go down in flames New Mexico)

The Piñon Post ^ | February 18, 2026 | Piñon Post staff

[CedarDave]

In the final stretch of New Mexico’s legislative session, two sweeping gun control measures championed by progressive Democrats have effectively collapsed — a major victory for New Mexicans’ Second Amendment rights.

Senate Bill 17, the so-called “Stop Illegal Gun Trade and Extremely Dangerous Weapons Act,” was tabled indefinitely in the House Judiciary Committee, halting what critics described as one of the most aggressive gun control packages ever introduced in New Mexico. Meanwhile, Senate Bill 261, which sought to dramatically expand so-called “gun-free zones” around polling places and ballot drop boxes, failed to advance out of the House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee after Ranking Member Rep. John Block forcefully exposed what he called “massive holes” in the legislation.

According to reporting from the Santa Fe New Mexican, the bill’s sponsors admitted the bill’s effective death, with state Sen. Debbie O’Malley telling the outlet, “There’s not enough time to hear it again.”

With time running out in the session, Democrats were unable to muster the momentum needed to ram the bills through — despite heavy pressure from national gun control groups. Pro-gun groups, lawmakers like Rep. Stefani Lord (R-Sandia Park), concerned citizens, and others were instrumental in the death of the radical bill — described the most far-reaching anti-gun measure in the entire country.

SB 17 would have imposed broad prohibitions on commonly owned gas-operated semi-automatic firearms and standard-capacity magazines — firearms that are overwhelmingly used for lawful purposes including self-defense, sport shooting, and hunting. Opponents argued the bill directly conflicted with the U.S. Supreme Court’s “common use” standard under the Second Amendment.

Beyond firearm bans, SB 17 layered on costly “site hardening” mandates for federally licensed firearm dealers, many of whom are small business owners already subject to extensive ATF regulation. The bill also attempted to create mechanisms critics warned could function as a de facto state gun registry — raising serious constitutional concerns about commandeering federal records and creating conflicts with federal law.

Perhaps most alarming to opponents was a provision forcing gun dealers to submit annual certifications under threat of felony charges for technical paperwork errors. Critics characterized this as a “zero tolerance trap” that would punish law-abiding retailers for minor administrative mistakes while doing nothing to deter violent criminals. Data cited during debate indicated retail theft accounts for a tiny fraction of crime guns, undermining the bill’s stated premise.

Ultimately, SB 17 stalled and was tabeled indefinitely in House Judiciary — effectively killing it for the session.

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TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Government; US: New Mexico
KEYWORDS: 2ndamendment; banglist; downinflames; guns; secondamendment

[CedarDave]

Lengthly article. Click on the link for details on SB-261

[CedarDave]

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[MAKOTHEDOG]

Awesome news

[PROCON]

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[MileHi]

This is great news for NM

[sauropod]

Great, but temporary news. Remain vigilent.

[rktman]

😳👍. Very unexpected.

[CedarDave]

Yes, it seemed the bill was on the fast track with the governor’s support. It sailed through Senate committees and survived debate in that body. Same story in its first hearing in the House. It was scheduled for debate in the House Judiciary Committee Monday afternoon, but there the public trail ended with no update on the Legislative docket on Tuesday or yesterday. It must have run into a buzz saw in House Judiciary and to avoid a defeat Dems agreed to table it. This year’s session ends in 14 hours (noon Thursday) so its done for this year.

[TigersEye]

It will save NM taxpayers a bunch of money defending laws that would ultimately be struck down by SCOTUS.

Unfortunately CO DemonRats have passed a raft of similar legislation into law and are working on several more anti-gun bills that will likely be passed.

All will be struck down in time costing the taxpayers a raft of money as well as all the expenses pro-gun advocates will have to spend to fight them.

[smokingfrog]

Good news, but we know these jackasses will never quit trying.

[CedarDave]

Here is additional info from the Santa Fe New Mexican:

After being riddled with a slew of proposed amendments in a late-night committee hearing, the most contentious gun control bill of New Mexico’s 30-day session is all but dead.

One of the lead sponsors of Senate Bill 17, Sen. Debbie O’Malley, D-Albuquerque, said Tuesday the measure is unlikely to get another hearing after the House Judiciary Committee delayed a vote early Tuesday morning.

“There’s not enough time to hear it again,” she said. “Of course, it’s disappointing that we won’t hear that bill,” O’Malley added. “But we’re going to keep trying.”

The House Judiciary Committee debated the bill — which would ban what it calls “extremely dangerous weapons” and add new regulations for firearms dealers to combat gun trafficking — from around 11:30 p.m. Monday to 12:40 a.m. Tuesday.

But the committee didn’t vote after another sponsor, Rep. Andrea Romero, D-Santa Fe, said she needed time to work through lawmakers’ proposed amendments.

The delay came after Miranda Viscoli, executive director of New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence, had warned the legislation was “legally vulnerable and likely to backfire.”

“By passing a ban this broad, we are handing the U.S. Supreme Court a perfect opportunity to deliver a definitive, nationwide ruling against state-level firearm restrictions,” Viscoli told The New Mexican last week.

“Beyond the legal risk,” she added, “the bill’s immediate effect will likely be a surge in panic buying of the exact weapons this bill is trying to limit.”

Viscoli said Tuesday passing gun violence prevention legislation is “never easy.”

https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/legislature/bill-banning-sale-of-extremely-dangerous-guns-appears-dead-for-session/article_99d728f5-6286-4c17-824e-1648a3d8164b.html

[DoodleBob]

[metmom]

The delay came after Miranda Viscoli, executive director of New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence, had warned the legislation was “legally vulnerable and likely to backfire.”

Because it's the wrong answer to limiting gun violence, idiot.

[Crusher138]

My group was following three bills.

The New Horizon bill - zero carbon emissions by 2050 - died. Yay!

SB17 - the bill mentioned here - died.

And we passed malpractice reform legislation.

The D’s in control of the state got very little this session.

Sine die!