New Mexico’s state Senate just rammed through one of the most audacious assaults on the Second Amendment in recent memory—a sweeping ban on a laundry list of semi-automatic rifles, handguns, and magazines, complete with new restrictions on dealers and even assault weapon registration schemes. This isn’t some timid local ordinance; it’s a full-throated embrace of the gun-grabber playbook, targeting everything from AR-15s to popular pistols like the Sig Sauer P320, while capping magazines at 10 rounds. What’s truly galling? Lawmakers openly admitted during debates that the bill is constitutionally DOA, with one sponsor conceding it likely won’t hold up in court—yet they passed it anyway. This is peak legislative theater: pass it to score political points, force gun owners to litigate, and burn taxpayer dollars in the process.
Context here is crucial for the 2A community. New Mexico, already grappling with border chaos and rising crime, is doubling down on failed policies echoed in states like California and New York, where similar bans have been shredded by federal courts post-*Bruen*. Remember *Rahimi*? Even with its nuances, the Supreme Court’s framework demands historical analogs for restrictions—and good luck finding Founding-era precedents for banning Thomas Jefferson’s favorite repeaters or modern equivalents. This bill’s shotgun approach (pun intended) ignores data showing semi-autos are used defensively hundreds of thousands of times annually, per CDC estimates, while mass shootings overwhelmingly involve handguns. It’s not about safety; it’s about control, timed perfectly to energize the anti-gun base ahead of elections.
The implications? Mobilize now. This forces another high-stakes lawsuit from groups like the NRA, GOA, or FPC, potentially tying up New Mexico’s courts and draining resources—but it’s winnable, as seen in Illinois where judges are striking down AWBs left and right. For the nation, it’s a stark reminder: even blue states are pushing extremes, betting on a friendly SCOTUS dissent or delay tactics. 2A warriors, stock up on ammo, support legal funds, and vote like your rights depend on it—because they do. This ban might crumble, but only if we make it hurt politically. Stay vigilant; the fight’s just heating up.
