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http://santafenewmexican.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=2144&dept_id=414519&newsid=6790580&PAG=461&rfi=9
from the Santa Fe New Mexican
from the Santa Fe New Mexican
Robinson Pushes Concealed-Handgun Measure
By BEN NEARY | The New Mexican 01/23/2003
ouncing back from last year's rejection by the New Mexico Supreme Court, a key proponent of allowing citizens to carry concealed handguns is pushing the legislation once again.
Sen. Shannon Robinson, D-Albuquerque, sponsored concealed-carry legislation that was signed into law last year. However, the state Supreme Court last summer rejected the law.
The court ruled that a provision that would have allowed local governments to ban concealed-carry permits within their limits violated the state constitution.
Under current state law, citizens may carry loaded handguns openly and may carry unloaded handguns concealed in most areas. Guns of any sort are prohibited on school grounds, in liquor establishments or in federal buildings.
Asked why New Mexico needs to change the law to allow private citizens to carry loaded, concealed weapons, the Albuquerque senator said Wednesday, "Take my area, it has a really high crime rate and police response is not always the best. So there's going to be a lot of people in my area that need to take their personal protection seriously.
"There's going to be a time period where police response is going to be at least five minutes away,'' Robinson said.
"What's going to happen in that time period? There are a lot of real travesties that have taken place, where they don't have that assistance.''
Robinson's legislation would require citizens to undergo training in the use of handguns as well as in the law of self defense before they would be certified by the New Mexico Department of Public Safety to carry a concealed handgun.
Anyone convicted of driving while intoxicated within the previous five years would be ineligible for a license.
Gilbert Gallegos, spokesman for Gov. Bill Richardson, said Wednesday that the governor expressed his support for concealed-carry legislation during his election campaign. Gallegos said the governor would judge any particular legislation if and when it reaches his desk.
Robinson, asked about the chances of getting the legislation passed this session, said, "It's always a new day every day you start. Opposition will certainly come up with some creative ways to derail it.''
He anticipates criticism from people who say that concealed-carry laws are apt to result in more gun violence.
Robinson, however, said people who commit violent acts are nearly always untrained. People who commit drive-by shootings and other gratuitous violence, he said, seldom have training in gun safety or in the law of self-defense.
Rep. Ken Martinez, D-Grants, chairs the House Judiciary Committee. In years past, he has questioned the wisdom of allowing concealed carry in the state and promises hard questions again this time around.
"One issue, and it's still open to debate, is whether concealed carry would require a constitutional amendment,'' Martinez said Wednesday.
While it guarantees the rights of citizens to keep firearms for sport and self-defense, the New Mexico Constitution also contains language stating that the constitution should not be construed to grant citizens the right to carry concealed weapons.
Robinson says that language doesn't amount to a prohibition of any law that would permit carrying concealed weapons, but opponents disagree.
Copyright 2003 Santa Fe New Mexican