SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – New Mexicans may soon have to wait after purchasing a gun to take it home, but that waiting period could be shorter than lawmakers originally proposed. This comes after a contentious proposal cleared a major hurdle in the roundhouse Friday. “This is something that New Mexico can really benefit from,” said Representative Andrea Romero (D-Santa Fe), the lead sponsor of House Bill 129 .
In a debate that lasted several hours Friday, house representatives passed the bill with a narrow vote of 37-33, but it wasn’t before the bill was amended. The original bill would have required New Mexicans to wait 14 days after purchasing a firearm to take it home.
However, during Friday’s debate on the house floor, lawmakers reduced that waiting period to seven days. “Different communities had some concerns about the longer wait,” Rep. Romero said. “We took those into consideration and agreed that we’re at a good starting point with seven days.”
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