Americans For Responsible Solutions Applauds New Mexico’s Senate Judiciary Committee For Advancing Lifesaving Bill That Would Prevent Domestic Abusers From Possessing Firearms
February 27, 2017 — Late this evening, the New Mexico Senate Judiciary advanced Senate Bill 259, which prohibits people subject to domestic violence protective orders from possessing firearms and establishes a process for domestic abusers to physically relinquish their firearms. Experts affiliated with Americans for Responsible Solutions, the gun violence prevention organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and Navy combat veteran and NASA astronaut Captain Mark Kelly, issued the following statements applauding this development:
“I applaud our leaders in Santa Fe who voted to advance a bill that will close the dangerous loophole in New Mexico law that gives domestic abusers easy access to firearms and puts vulnerable families at risk,” said Raúl Torrez, Bernalillo County District Attorney, advisory committee member for the New Mexico Coalition for Common Sense. “This commonsense step will protect our families from harm and save lives. I look forward to the Senate demonstrating the same commitment to our public safety and passing this bill immediately.”
“Guns and domestic violence are a deadly, tragic mix. We are pleased to see the New Mexico Senate Judiciary Committee advanced this commonsense, bipartisan proposal, which helps close the lethal gaps in New Mexico law that gives domestic abusers easy access to firearms,” said Robin Lloyd, Government Affairs Director, Americans for Responsible Solutions. “Americans for Responsible Solutions and the New Mexico Coalition for Common Sense is proud to join domestic violence survivors, advocates and public safety officials from across the state in calling for this life-saving legislation. We urge the full Senate to support this reasonable proposal that will make New Mexican women and their families safer.”
OVERVIEW OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE & CURRENT NEW MEXICO LAW
In 2010, New Mexico had the seventh-highest rate of women being killed by men—the majority of which occur with a firearm. Children are killed by guns at a rate almost 60 percent higher than the national average. Of the 123 domestic violence homicides in New Mexico from 2003 to 2012, more than one-half of the victims—50.4 percent—were killed with guns. Firearms accounted for the murders of 143 women in New Mexico from 2002 to 2011.
New Mexico currently follows federal law and requires background checks for firearm purchases at federally licensed firearms dealers. However, New Mexico does NOT require background checks for purchases from unlicensed dealers, including at gun shows and online. In addition, out of state residents are permitted to buy firearms in New Mexico. Unlike federal law, existing New Mexico law does not prohibit individuals with a domestic violence protective order from possessing a firearm, nor does it outline a procedure for ensuring that firearms are physically surrendered.