Last month, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed four bills into law that she says will help law enforcement agencies cut down on crime in the state. Two of the laws involve firearms.
Gov. Grisham said in signing the laws that while she and the legislature that passed them want to protect the rights of responsible gun owners, they also want to keep “firearms out of the wrong hands.”
New firearm sale waiting period
One law creates a new offense of “unlawful sale of a firearm before the required waiting period ends.” That waiting period is seven calendar days. This is to allow time for the results of a background check on the potential buyer before a firearm changes hands. The same waiting period applies to firearm transfers.
Prohibition of firearms near polling places
With the contentious political climate, the issue of people hanging around polling places armed or carrying guns into polling places has become even more serious. The new law makes it illegal “to carry firearms within 100 ft. of polling places during an election.”
Attempted second-degree murder
Another new law increases the maximum sentence for attempted second-degree murder from 15 years to 18 years. Second-degree murder typically involves a killing where there’s some type of mitigating circumstance like a “sudden fight” of “heat of passion.”
The fourth new law signed by Gov. Grisham requires that if a person who has been charged with a felony is on pretrial release and is charged with committing another felony, that person will remain in custody.
If you’re facing a criminal charge – whether related to older or newer laws – it’s crucial to take it seriously. Getting legal guidance as soon as possible can help you protect your rights and work toward the best possible outcome.
