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Committee tables proposal to repeal seven‑day firearm waiting period after extended debate
Summary
Following hours of testimony from firearms groups, public‑health advocates and the shooting‑sports community, a House committee voted 4‑2 to table a bill that would have repealed the state’s seven‑calendar‑day waiting period for firearm transfers.
The House Consumer & Public Affairs Committee voted to table House Bill 162, a proposal to repeal New Mexico’s seven‑calendar‑day waiting period for the sale and transfer of firearms.
Sponsor Representative Mason framed the repeal as relief for law‑abiding buyers and small federally licensed firearms dealers, who he and industry witnesses said face storage burdens and lost sales when transfers must be held for a week. Anthony Segura of the New Mexico Shooting Sports Association and Nick Lucio of the National Rifle Association described logistical and economic problems for small businesses, and urged that a federal instant background check (NICS) already runs at the point of sale.
Opponents, including Kurt Reiger of Lutheran Advocacy and Ministries of New Mexico and public‑health witnesses, said waiting periods have been associated with reductions in gun suicides and argued repeal would remove a reasonable cooling‑off provision. Witnesses also raised concerns about enforcement and whether meaningful additional checks happen during the seven‑day period.
Committee discussion included questions about how the waiting period is applied (for example, concealed‑carry permit holders and transactions between licensed dealers), whether additional checks occur during the waiting interval, and how the law is enforced given inconsistent guidance from state agencies. Several legislators asked whether nearby jurisdictions without a waiting period could blunt any intended public‑safety effects by allowing residents to purchase firearms elsewhere.
Outcome: After debate, a motion to table the bill carried 4‑2. The committee’s action effectively pauses repeal consideration pending further work.
What’s next: The sponsor said he may seek to carry the matter again but will first consider the committee’s concerns about enforcement, public safety evidence and statutory clarity. Committee members requested more information on studies concerning waiting periods and on administrative guidance governing the seven‑day interval.
