Senator Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, and Rep. Andrea Romero, D-Santa Fe, present HJC/HB 129, a bill to increase the waiting period for background checks when purchasing a firearm. The bill is being heard of the Senate Floor, Saturday, February 10, 2024. (Photo by Eddie Moore / Albuquerque Journal)
Both chambers of the New Mexico Legislature have voted in favor of a seven-day waiting period for all gun sales, though they still need to work out some differences before the proposal can be sent to the governor’s desk.
The New Mexico Senate on Saturday night voted 23-18 to pass House Bill 129 , which would require a gun seller to wait seven days after the purchase to deliver a gun to the buyer.
The bill passed the House of Representatives on Feb. 2 in a 37-33 vote. Since the Senate amended the bill, it must return to the House so they can agree to the changes before it can go to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to be signed into law.
HB 129 is sponsored by Reps. Andrea Romero (D-Santa Fe), Dayan Hochman-Vigil (D-Albuquerque) and Cristina Parajón (D-Albuquerque). Sens. Linda M. Lopez (D-Albuquerque) and Joseph Cervantes (D-Las Cruces) are sponsors in the other chamber.