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…
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…
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.
Governor Bill Richardson announced in a press release today that he signed a bill that would allow concealed weapons in some restaurants. While doing so, Richardson announced that he was directing the New Mexico Department of Public Safety to revise a regulation that would make it clear that those with concealed weapons could not consume alcohol.
“My decision to sign this bill came after much contemplation and thought. I heard strong opinions from both those for and against the bill,” Richardson said. “As the Governor of a western state, I know well the deep feelings that come with such a measure, but I also understand those feelings and beliefs must be tempered by the enactment of certain safeguards.”
The legislation would allow someone with a concealed weapon to “enter a restaurant licensed to sell only beer and wine that derives no less than sixty percent of its annual gross receipts from the sale of food for consumption on premises.” A restaurant could opt out of the law by posting, “in a conspicuous location at each public entrance,” the prohibition of firearms or by the owner or manager telling a person permitted to carry a concealed weapon that a firearm “is not permitted in the restaurant.”
Richardson continued in his statement to say he is encouraging the state Legislature to go one step further than the new regulations prohibiting those carrying concealed weapons from consuming alcohol. He’d like to see a law passed to that effect.
One opponent of the bill, Sen. Eric Griego, told the Independent on the Independent’s live blog during the regular session that he believes this legislation is “part of a national campaign by the NRA to broaden the use of concealed weapons.”
The legislation, SB 40, was sponsored by Sen. George Munoz.
