Gun safety, criminal justice issues, a minimum wage battle and a proposed booze ban for state senators were all up for discussion this week as New Mexico lawmakers wrapped up the second week of this year’s 60-day legislation.
Follow Journal Capitol Bureau reporters Dan Boyd and Dan McKay for daily coverage of the session. Here’s a recap of some of the major stories this week:
Return of the Dans. If you like awkward videos, tune in soon to see @DanBoydNM and I give Facebook Live a try. https://t.co/90rsSamlhl
— Dan McKay (@mckaydan) January 27, 2023
GUNS: Gun safety is top of mind at the Roundhouse this year. House Bill 9 would make it a crime to store a firearm in a way that negligently disregards the ability of a minor to access it. The bill includes exemptions intended for good-faith efforts to safely store guns, including protections for adult gun owners who stored firearms in secure containers, kept their weapons locked and inoperable, gun owners whose home was broken into by a minor, or those whose gun was used in self-defense. The measure, sponsored jointly by five Democrats, passed the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee this week on a 4-2 party-line vote. Other proposals range from banning the possession of AR-15-style rifles to instituting a 14-day waiting period for gun purchases.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE: The thorny debate around how best to handle pre-trial detention is back this year as lawmakers search for ways to stem rising crime rates. Members of the...
A short video circulating widely on social media claims that US Representative Ilhan Omar referred to World War II as “World War 11” while discussing the Alien Enemies Act. The clip has been share...