[cuchulainn]

from the Santa Fe New Mexican

http://santafenewmexican.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=2144&dept_id=414519&newsid=7449000&PAG=461&rfi=9

Bills Would Allow Concealed Weapons

By STEVE TERRELL | The New Mexican 03/21/2003

By huge margins Thursday, the House passed two near-identical bills that would allow people over 25 to carry concealed guns.

Senate Bill 23, sponsored by Sen. Shannon Robinson, D-Albuquerque, sailed through the House 50-19.

The second measure, House Bill 916, sponsored by Rep. John Heaton, D-Carlsbad passed 50-18. It is not clear why the House voted on both bills.

Rep. Jane Powdrell-Culbert, R-Corrales, said a concealed-weapons law will make people safer. She said carrying a concealed weapon allowed her to protect herself from an attacker in Virginia.

"I was thankful I had the training and more importantly that I had the guts to pull a gun on an individual," she said. "It's better to say 'There he lies' instead of 'There I lie.' "

But House Majority Leader Danice Picraux, D-Albuquerque, said, "This is absolute madness." She predicted a concealed-weapon law would lead to more gun violence and accidents involving firearms.

SB23, having passed both houses, is closer to becoming law. It must return to the Senate because of amendments added to it in House committees.

Robinson said earlier in the week he didn't like the amendments. However, because the session is so close to adjournment, he said, the Senate would have no choice but to concur with the amendments.

The legislative session ends at noon Saturday.

The House Appropriations and Finance Committee on Wednesday amended Robinson's bill to raise the age for obtaining a concealed-carry permit from 21 to 25.

House committees also reduced the length of permits from four to two years.

During the election campaign, Gov. Bill Richardson said he would sign a concealed-carry bill.

Copyright 2003 Santa Fe New Mexican

[SDC]

Isn't it funny how the anti-CCW people are always predicting "blood in the streets" when a self-defence law goes into effect? Has there EVER been a case of a jurisdiction experiencing a RISE in homicide or assaults after one of these laws, or are they just letting their imaginations run wild again?

[Blackhawk]

Rep. Jane Powdrell-Culbert, R-Corrales, said a concealed-weapons law will make people safer. She said carrying a concealed weapon allowed her to protect herself from an attacker in Virginia.

"I was thankful I had the training and more importantly that I had the guts to pull a gun on an individual," she said. "It's better to say 'There he lies' instead of 'There I lie.' "

But House Majority Leader Danice Picraux, D-Albuquerque, said, "This is absolute madness." She predicted a concealed-weapon law would lead to more gun violence and accidents involving firearms.Sorry Danice, but Jane's statement makes yours as relevant as a meteor hitting Jupiter to the people of New Mexico.

[Standing Wolf]

But House Majority Leader Danice Picraux, D-Albuquerque, said, "This is absolute madness." She predicted a concealed-weapon law would lead to more gun violence and accidents involving firearms.

Predictions based on irrational fear and rampaging statism rarely amount to much in reality.

[Bergeron]

Why is the law applying to those over the age of 25?

I happen to think that is pretty weird, is one not considered a full adult in the state of New Mexico until the age of 25?

[Gray Peterson]

I already have a thread on this. Merge needed?

Btw, NMSSA is trying to kill this bill. The entire committee process was to destroy this bill to the point that no one would support it. Unless something happens on the House floor to remove this onerous language, it needs to get killed.

[bogie]

Campers, IMHO, it's better to have a 25+ law that can be amended in the future, than to not have one...

Of course, one could have Vermont-style, but for most areas, that just ain't gonna happen. So be satisfied with getting your nose under the tent, and then when you're there, start workin' on the gettin' the rump inside...

[Gray Peterson]

Campers, IMHO, it's better to have a 25+ law that can be amended in the future, than to not have one...

I say bull.

For one thing, I'm 21 years of age. You expect my fellow 21 year old NM's to wait 4 years?

Second, the Oklahoma Legislature passed the OSDA back in 1995, and it had a 23 year old age provision. Only this year are they getting around to lowering the age to 21, which has been 8 years!!! How many 21-25 year olds have to die for the legislature to get around to doing something about it?

I can apply that same logic to 18-21 year olds in most states, but right now, that's neither here nor there.

[fallingblock]

If you are not familiar with the fight in N.M., this push-shove match has been going on for some time now. There are some dedicated opponents to CCW in the state, but they have been outclassed recently.

For New Mexico, I think the most effective strategy is the 'camel' approach. we'll get there, and sooner than you think.
The governor, Bill Richardson, will sign this bill, and then it will be in place for the amendments coming next year. We gotta win slowly in some states, but we're winning in N.M.:D

[Gray Peterson]

I don't think anyone can call this a win. It's certainly not a win for me, and it certainly wouldn't be a win if they could raise the age with any impunity.

[funbob]

What a bunch of crap. I was so looking forward to being able to get a permit and now I find myself unable to do so simply because of that fact that I'm 22 years old. Utter nonsense.

[El Tejon]

25? Certain calibers? Man, that stinks. How about reciprocity? Anything?

If it is signed, I hope our square state friends follow up with a counterattack.

[Gray Peterson]

What a bunch of crap. I was so looking forward to being able to get a permit and now I find myself unable to do so simply because of that fact that I'm 22 years old. Utter nonsense.

How about applying, getting denied, and then suing the :cuss: out of them.

[fallingblock]

I said we were 'winning slowly'.

Getting CCW just the way we want it first time around would be great, but that isn't the way it worked in N.M.:(

We got this bill through, with attempts from the anti-gun demorats to gut it, but all that was in fact lost was:

A. the reduction of the permit length to two years from four (it was one year in the initial attempt last year!).

B: the increase in age to 25-which is a rotten move on the anti's part, but we can fix it with an amendment once the legislation is in place.;)

Sometimes you just gotta 'win slowly':(

[Jim March]

That would be my first thought: the age-25 thing won't hold up under equal protection law!