New Mexico’s SB-17, the Precursor to a Complete Gun Ban

February 17, 2026
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New Mexico's SB-17 isn't just another incremental gun control measure—it's a Trojan horse galloping toward a full-spectrum assault weapons ban, dressed up as common-sense reform. The bill targets semi-automatic firearms with a laundry list of prohibitions, including anything with a detachable magazine, pistol grips, or even folding stocks, while slapping draconian regulations on gun dealers like mandatory serialization of all parts and real-time sales reporting to the state. Proponents frame it as curbing mass shootings, but let's call it what it is: a blueprint for disarming law-abiding citizens under the guise of public safety. This echoes California's roster of approved guns and New York's SAFE Act, where assault weapon definitions ballooned to swallow AR-15s, AKs, and eventually pump-action shotguns. In a state already grappling with cartel violence spilling over from the border, SB-17 diverts resources from real crime-fighting to paperwork for FFLs, potentially shuttering small dealers and creating a de facto registry. The implications for the 2A community are stark and immediate. If SB-17 passes, New Mexico joins the growing patchwork of red-flag states where your standard defensive rifle becomes contraband overnight, forcing owners into a grandfathered limbo with transfer bans that erode value and usability. This isn't hyperbole—look at Illinois' recent semi-auto ban, upheld despite Bruen's clear Second Amendment mandates, signaling courts' willingness to let states nibble at the fringes until the right is gutted. Nationally, it sets a precedent for copycat bills in blue strongholds, pressuring moderates in swing states and testing the post-Bruen legal landscape. The 2A fight here demands aggressive pushback: flood the legislature with calls, support groups like the NRA and GOA funding challenges, and rally at the Roundhouse. Fail, and SB-17 becomes the domino that topples semi-autos nationwide—because once they ban the rifles, the handguns and shotguns are next on the chopping block. For gun owners, the message is clear: vigilance isn't optional. Stock up on compliant builds if you're in NM, back preemptive lawsuits, and vote like your arsenal depends on it—because it does. This bill's defeat could blunt the momentum of gun-grabbers coast-to-coast; its passage accelerates the slippery slope to confiscation. Stay armed, stay informed, and stay free.

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New Mexico’s SB-17 isn’t just another incremental gun control measure—it’s a Trojan horse galloping toward a full-spectrum assault weapons ban, dressed up as common-sense reform. The bill targets semi-automatic firearms with a laundry list of prohibitions, including anything with a detachable magazine, pistol grips, or even folding stocks, while slapping draconian regulations on gun dealers like mandatory serialization of all parts and real-time sales reporting to the state. Proponents frame it as curbing mass shootings, but let’s call it what it is: a blueprint for disarming law-abiding citizens under the guise of public safety. This echoes California’s roster of approved guns and New York’s SAFE Act, where assault weapon definitions ballooned to swallow AR-15s, AKs, and eventually pump-action shotguns. In a state already grappling with cartel violence spilling over from the border, SB-17 diverts resources from real crime-fighting to paperwork for FFLs, potentially shuttering small dealers and creating a de facto registry.

The implications for the 2A community are stark and immediate. If SB-17 passes, New Mexico joins the growing patchwork of red-flag states where your standard defensive rifle becomes contraband overnight, forcing owners into a grandfathered limbo with transfer bans that erode value and usability. This isn’t hyperbole—look at Illinois’ recent semi-auto ban, upheld despite Bruen’s clear Second Amendment mandates, signaling courts’ willingness to let states nibble at the fringes until the right is gutted. Nationally, it sets a precedent for copycat bills in blue strongholds, pressuring moderates in swing states and testing the post-Bruen legal landscape. The 2A fight here demands aggressive pushback: flood the legislature with calls, support groups like the NRA and GOA funding challenges, and rally at the Roundhouse. Fail, and SB-17 becomes the domino that topples semi-autos nationwide—because once they ban the rifles, the handguns and shotguns are next on the chopping block.

For gun owners, the message is clear: vigilance isn’t optional. Stock up on compliant builds if you’re in NM, back preemptive lawsuits, and vote like your arsenal depends on it—because it does. This bill’s defeat could blunt the momentum of gun-grabbers coast-to-coast; its passage accelerates the slippery slope to confiscation. Stay armed, stay informed, and stay free.

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