I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…
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Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.
Annie got one step closer to being able to carry her concealed gun into a restaurant on Friday.
Senators voted 27-15 to approve Sen. George Muñoz‘ SB 40 that would allow those with concealed weapon permits to bring their guns into restaurants that serve beer and wine, unless a restaurant opts out of the program.
Legislators attempted to amend the bill five times, though each amendment was shot down. Sen. Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, citing law that already makes it a petty misdemeanor to carry a firearm while intoxicated, attempted to add language to make it a fourth-degree felony to have “a sip of beer” while carrying a concealed weapon into a restaurant. The amendment failed by a vote of 16-24.
If SB 40 passes — it must clear the House and get Gov. Bill Richardson‘s signature — restaurant owners who do not want to allow concealed weapons into their establishments are allowed to opt out by posting signs that indicate they do not allow concealed weapons.
Fearing that restaurant owners may not be aware of the change Sen. Tim Keller tried to amend the bill requiring restaurants that allow the weapons to post signs stating concealed weapons are allowed.
A strong opponent of SB 40, Sen. Stephen Fischmann, D-Las Cruces, said Keller’s amendment “makes the difference between whether I can vote for this bill or vote against this bill.”
Fischmann’s opposition came from a belief that currently consumers do not know that weapons are allowed in many establishments and that his constituents disagree with the current policy. He added that his concerns extended to the legislative tendency to “respond to an interest group, rather than what the public wants, “adding that, “if you put up a sign, you give a clear picture to consumer about what they’re walking into and what’s going on.”
Sen. Eric Griego, D-Albuquerque, who offered two failed amendments, agreed with Fischmann’s concerns about interests groups, telling The Independent, on our live blog that this was, “part of a national campaign by the NRA to broaden the use of concealed weapons.”
Both of Griego’s amendments focused on the liability issues facing restaurants that allow concealed weapons in their establishment. The first would have made them liable, along with the gun owner, in the case of an incident involving a concealed weapon. The second would have immunized a business against liability in the case of an incident if they posted signs stating that concealed weapons were not allowed in their restaurant.
Griego’s amendments led to lively discussion, with Sen. Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, D-Belen, answering a question posed by Sen. Dede Feldman, D-Albuquerque, that it is legal to carry a concealed weapon into state buildings, including the Roundhouse, but not schools and court houses.
Feldman asked if anyone in Senate chambers was currently carrying a weapon.
“It seems like we’re on the road to a complete deregulation of concealed weapons,” she said, adding, “I suppose common sense is fading here, but I urge the body to oppose this legislation.”
On the opposite end of the spectrum Sen. David Ulibarri, D-Grants, said, “if people were allowed to carry guns we would have less crimes,” a sentiment later echoed by Sen. Kent Cravens, D-Albuquerque.
Cravens noted “concealed weapons are already there,” and said that carriers of concealed weapon often offer protection.
An amendment that would have required the carrier of a concealed weapon to alert the manager of a restaurant of his weapon, introduced by Sen. Gerald Ortiz y Pino, D-Albuquerque, also failed.
