New Mexico is Trying to Follow in NY Footsteps

I've just been informed that New Mexico (where I live) is trying to follow in NY's footsteps, by passing an extremely ridiculous bill into law. The bill is HB402.

http://www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/_session....No=402&year=13

In short, it says that all "assault" weapons must be in a gun safe while not in use, and when being transported, have a trigger lock installed. They can not be passed onto children, sold or transferred to anyone. It even has breakdowns on what features defines an "assault rifle", "assault shotgun" and "assault pistol".

Assault weapons would be defined under this law as a gun with ANY of the following features (copying Troubleco's post from a NM forum)


* folding or telescoping stock
* a second hand-grip such as one mounted under the barrel
* thumbhole stock
* a pistol grip
* bayonet mount
* flash suppressor or muzzle break
* grenade launcher
* shotguns with a fixed capacity greater than 7 shells
* shotguns with detachable magazines
* pistols with a threaded barrel, flash suppressor, or silencer
* semi-auto version of an automatic firearm
and many others

Magazine limit of seven rounds.

I'm sure I don't have to tell any of you how asinine this is. If you wouldn't mind proofreading my letter, I'd greatly appreciate it! And if you want a list of the NM Representatives to send this to, I'd be more than happy to copy/paste a long list that you can include in a single email.

Here's the first round of letters that I just sent. I will be sending more every day until I hear from them, all variations on this theme though. After the first message to each, I will be sending mass emails in a more general form and BLIND carbon copying all of the addresses.

Quote:

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Dear Representative ________,


I am writing to you in regards to HB 402, as a resident of New Mexico and a proud firearm owner. This bill would effectively turn law-abiding, gun-owning citizens into criminals and will do nothing other than limit the rights of law-abiding citizens.

For starters, "grenade launchers" are already effectively illegal to the average citizen, as they are a NFA Class III item and are highly regulated. Furthermore, classifying an "assault" weapon as having any one of the described features is asinine. The only thing that makes an "assault" weapon truly an assault weapon, is that it is "Select Fire" and has the ability to fire in both Automatic, Semi-Automatic and Safe modes. These rifles, are not only highly regulated by the BATFE but are subject to extensive and lengthy background checks. In addition, they cost upwards of $5,000 to $10,000 and are rather difficult to find for purchase.

If you performed a little research, you would notice that a "thumbhole stock", "a folding or telescoping stock", or a "a second handgrip or a protruding grip that can be held by the non-trigger hand" do not make the firearm any more dangerous. They are merely cosmetic features that do nothing to change how the firearm operates. In fact, every single rifle and shotgun in existence, including bolt action and single shot, have "a second handgrip or a protruding grip that can be held by the non-trigger hand", as these firearms are intended to be shouldered and held with two hands while firing.

I strongly urge you to oppose HB 402 and any other bills that try to restrict the rights of law-abiding citizens.


Sincerely,

_____

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I realize it is probably way too long, but they are all valid points that I want to bring to the table, but if anyone can find a way to cut the fat, please feel free to post it up here for others to use as a base. Thanks!!

PS. I can't believe this is trying to be passed in New Mexico! NM is vastly undeveloped and guns are a way of life basically. Its like the Old West never left here. I mean heck, the population of the entire state is only 2.01 Million. The population of NYC is 8.24 Million!



eta: After doing more research into it, the author of this bill appears to only be introducing this bill so his constituents will re-elect him, since he is the rep for a very liberal area (Santa Fe). The census is that it will not pass the committee because the gap between the Ds and Rs is very close, so if the Ds pass something like this, they will be voted out of office and the Rs will take control of the House again and hold onto it (like they did after 1994).