Question On CCW in New Mexico

[heeler]

I am leaving this weekend for a trip out to New Mexico and I know that N.M. recognizes my Texas CHL and I printed out a copy from HandgunlawUS that gives me New Mexico's rules on concealed carry but I am confused on one issue I was hoping the local New Mexican's might help me on.
The issue is restaurant carry.
I know that if there is a no guns sign you cant enter the establishment concealed carrying.
But the law also states that if the eatery also serves hard liqour as many restaurants do in Texas you cant enter there with a concealed carry or you can be nailed on a felony charge.
So how before entering do you know if they only serve Beer or wine(which is fine by law) or they just happen to also serve hard liqour??
Are these places required to put up no guns signs for the sake of the license holder??
Of course here in Texas a gun buster sign means nothing but a legal posted 30:06 sign or in a bar type of place a red 51% sign means your in trouble if you come in concealed.
I would obviously hate to walk into a place to eat and suddenly find I am a walking uncaught felon.

 

[84B20]

If hard liquor is served you are not allowed to carry, concealed or open (which by the way is legal in New Mexico, unlike Texas except of course in bars). Some establishments that serve beer and wine and derive 60% of their income from food may still have a sign posted saying firearms are not allowed but it is my understanding that those white signs with red letters no longer apply to CCW (CHL) holders. Some may have signs but many do not. If they do it is supposed to be posted at the entranced or just as you enter. If you don't see a bar as you enter just ask if they server hard liquor. It's really that simple. In most restaurants you will see as you enter whether or not they have a bar.

 

[heeler]

I am a little confused here 84B20.
If I have already entered the place and then ask if the answer is yes they serve hard spirits I am at that point in violation of law.
Are they not required to post signs so people are not walking into a virtual trap while conceal carrying??

 

[84B20]

I think you are over thinking it. I don't think anyone will arrest you if you ask if hard liquor is served. The state is not trying to entrap anyone. As far as I understand a sign is not required to inform you they serve hard liquor. Just use you common sense and you will do fine.

 

[heeler]

I am not over thinking anything imho.
In Texas we have distinct signage that indicates where concealed carry is verbotten.
We are supposed to know the other tenants of the law as well that do not require signage.
All I know at this point is N.M. says you cant enter a resturant that happens to serve hard spirits or your in violation of the law..Hence a felon.
If of course there is a gun buster sign then fine you are warned.
But if the state see's fit to honor other states CCW license then I would think that a place you walk into to eat would be at least required to let the public know this is off limits for CCW if this is the case.
But as I mentioned there are plenty of resturants in Texas that also serve hard spirits but have specific signage that gives you the indication that ccw in there is off limits.

 

[allaroundhunter]

Heeler, yes, going in there and asking would mean that if they answer "yes", you are in violation of the law. But they will not arrest you on the spot (rarely are restaurant owners police officers). All you have to do is act like you left your wallet in the car or something and go back and lock your weapon up.

The law isn't perfect, but they aren't trying to screw you over with it. Police officers really are not trying to arrest you for every single thing.

 

[heeler]

I truely understand what you are saying AAH,but coming from our state this seems a little peculiar.
Especially in a place like,oh say liberal Sante Fe.
I want to have a nice visit not a felony arrest because of poor understanding of the law or lack of signage warning.

 

[allaroundhunter]

I truely understand what you are saying AAH,but coming from our state this seems a little peculiar.

I completely understand you there, and a felony sure would be a quick way to ruin a vacation.

 

[Shoobee]

If you wander through California, then make sure you bring a locking gun box with you, and a lock on it, and a trigger lock, and strip down your firearm into gun parts, and put a locked trigger lock on the frame, and lock everything inside the gun box, and lock that, then lock it all inside your vehicle trunk, and stash the ammo someplace else not touching or connected to your firearm.

Seriously.

That's what life is like in a Kommunist Peoples Republik. So don't complain.

 

[heeler]

No complaining.
I just want to follow the law.
And I have zero intentions of going to California for the reasons you just stated.

 

[medalguy]

I have homes in both Texas and New Mexico. I carry frequently, and I've never had a problem carrying in New Mexico. If a restaurant isn't appropriate to carrying, I simply walk out to my truck and lock the gun away, out of sight. I rearm upon return to the truck.

I think the police have better things to do than wait just inside a restaurant, in the dark, waiting for a Texas resident to walk in armed, then jump all over him. Intent I think certainly enters into the equation here.

I believe if you learn a restaurant doesn't allow carry and remain sitting there you MIGHT have a problem, but if you carry as we do in Texas (concealed) no one should even know you had the pistol anyway. But make an effort to comply with the law and you should be fine. Or leave it in your vehicle whenever entering a restaurant if you're really paranoid.

 

[heeler]

Again,since the state has the rule about not entering a resturant that serves hard spirits while conceal carrying I would just think there should or would be a warning for the person coming through the door while obviously concealed carrying.
I'm not paranoid and certainly not implying the police are waiting to entrap you,but just like speed limit signs that are on a road they give you notice what the speed is.