Bill Banning Most Semi-Automatic Rifles Moves Forward in New Mexico

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has repeatedly tried to convince the state legislature to adopt a semi-auto ban during her time in office, but has repeatedly failed in her quest. In her last year in office, though, it looks like Grisham’s gun ban goal is actually in reach, now that a sweeping semi-auto ban that also imposes a host of new regulations on gun dealers has passed out of committee and will likely soon hit the Senate floor. 

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved a substitute version of SB 17 on a party-line vote Wednesday evening, rejecting an amendment to strip the bill of its gun ban language along the way. 

There is a committee sub for SB17 that hasn’t been released to the public, but it is the bill the committee is debating. The sponsors and committee are purposefully withholding language on what could be the worst gun ban in the nation.

— NM Shooting Sports Association (@NM_SSA) February 5, 2026

Democrat sponsor Rep. Andrea Romero, testifying in support of the bill, claimed the legislation, “will simply ask gun dealers to do what responsible business owners already do: secure their inventory, train their employees, track their sales and stop selling military-grade weapons designed for mass casualties.” 

FFLs are already required to track their sales and keep records under federal law, and I don’t know a single FFL who doesn’t secure their inventory or want to have trained employees. Romero’s description of the legislation, though, leaves out the onerous and burdensome security requirements mandated for FFLs, and her description of “military-grade weapons designed for mass casualties” is downright absurd given that SB 17 specifically exempts law enforcement from its prohibitions. 

Does Romero really want local police departments to be equipped with military weapons “designed” for mass slaughter? Of course not. But she also doesn’t want New Mexicans to be able to purchase the most popular rifles in the country. 

“We’ve seen a history in New Mexico passing some unconstitutional laws sent back to the state. And I predict this is going to be much like that. I’m not a lawyer, but I can read,” said Sen. Crystal Brantley, R-Elephant Butte.

Sen. Antoinette Sedillo Lopez, D-Albuquerque, said the section banning the sale of certain weapons could be litigated and the outcome in court is uncertain — but, she said, she’d still vote for it as a “very important policy.”

Sen. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, the chair of the committee, said he stands by the opinion he expressed last year that the bans on certain guns would be unconstitutional. However, he said, he supports the provisions related to dealer regulations and voted for the bill.

Cervantes joined Republicans in voting in favor of the amendment to strip SB 17 of its gun ban language, but because of the Senate Judiciary committee’s makeup another Democrat needed to cross over as well in order for the amendment to pass. 

So does this mean SB 17 is a done deal? Zach Fort of the New Mexico Shooting Sports Association says no. I spoke with Fort for today’s Bearing Arms’ Cam & Co podcast, and he told me that there are efforts underway to route SB 17 to the Senate Finance committee instead of the Senate floor. Right now SB 17 appropriates no money for enforcement, even though it tasks the state Department of Justice with a number of new responsibilities; from determining what firearms would be banned to running inspections on FFLs. 

Fort says that unlike Senate Judiciary, Senate Finance has several rural Democrats who are more likely to vote “no” on SB 17 than the Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Las Cruces Dems on Judiciary. 

Even if SB 17 moves directly to the Senate floor, those rural Democrats will still get a chance to vote, and Fort believes that there will be a floor amendment offered that would once again strip SB 17 of its gun ban language. If SB 17 passes the Senate, that same amendment will be offered in the House. 

Fort believes that if SB 17 gets that far, the vote will be razor-thin in both chambers, and he’s encouraging New Mexico gun owners to contact their representatives and senators to urge them to vote “no” on the bill. With just two weeks left in the 30-day session, things are going to happen quickly, so there’s no time for gun owners in the Land of Enchantment to delay making contact with lawmakers. If you need help in finding your representative and senator you can use this link, and be sure to follow the New Mexico Shooting Sports Association on X for the latest on SB 17.  

Editor’s Note: Groups like NMSSA and others across the country are doing everything they can to protect our Second Amendment rights and right to self-defense.

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