Free Republic

WASHINGTON — For more than half a century, old-fashioned, no-frills highway rest stops have welcomed motorists looking for a break from the road, a bathroom or a picnic table where they can eat lunch. But in some states, these roadside areas are disappearing.

When I crossed the border into New Mexico from Arizona on I-40 this summer, I stopped at the Manuelito Visitor Center/Rest Area.  I saw the rest area rules and read them. The line at the bottom of paragraph 2. said:  ALL FIREARMS MUST REMAIN IN VEHICLES. New Mexico has a strong pre-emption law, enforced by their Supreme Court.  Rest areas, according to handgunlaw.com(pdf) are not a prohibited area.   From the map below, it seems that the Manuelito rest area, which is on I-40 across the border from Arizona, on the way to Gallup, is not in an Indian reservation....