AI was utilized in the writing of this article.
Jimmy Dean
February 3, 2024
In the heart of Santa Fe, New Mexico, the Roundhouse was abuzz with fervent debate as gun control once again took center stage. The New Mexico House of Representatives spent several grueling hours deliberating over House Bill 129, a proposed waiting period for all gun sales. This bill is one of the key public safety initiatives put forth by the governor and has been a topic of heated discussion since its inception.
The bill, originally proposed by Democratic state Rep. Andrea Romero, called for a mandatory 14 business day waiting period for all gun sales in New Mexico, with no exceptions. The rationale behind this proposal was to provide a cooling-off period that would allow federal background checks to be completed thoroughly and efficiently (KOB 4 News, 2024).
However, the bill underwent several modifications during the committee process. The timeframe was updated from business days to calendar days, and an exception was added for immediate family members. These changes were met with mixed reactions from both sides of the aisle.
On Friday, House lawmakers took another significant step by reducing the proposed waiting period to seven days. This change barely scraped through with a 35-34 vote. Supporters argued that this was intended as a compromise, with state Rep. Meredith Dixon stating that “a seven-day waiting period, while less of an inconvenience on our legal, responsible gun owners, would help to prevent some of the suicides that occur during that impulsive 24-hour time period” (KOB 4 News, 2024).