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Everytown, New Mexico Moms Demand Action, Gun Violence Survivors, Former Law Enforcement Join With Lawmakers to Rally in Support of Legislation to Require Criminal Background Checks For All Gun Sales

2.8.2017

Senate Bill 48/House Bill 50 Seeks to Close the Loophole in Current New Mexico Law That Allows Criminals, Domestic Abusers and Other Dangerous People to Obtain Guns from Unlicensed Sellers, With No Background Check, No Questions Asked

Recent Everytown Polling Reveals 87 Percent of New Mexicans Support Criminal Background Checks for All Gun Sales, Including 84 Percent of Gun Owners

SANTA FE, N.M. – More than 75 members of the New Mexico chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and members of the Everytown Survivor Network, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today stood with Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, Senator Richard Martinez and Representative Stephanie Garcia Richard, former law enforcement, New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence and other gun safety advocates at the State Capitol to discuss support for Senate Bill 48/House Bill 50 – legislation that would close the background check loophole in New Mexico and require criminal background checks for all gun sales.

After the press conference, gun safety advocates went to meet with legislators to discuss why they support SB 48/HB 50, which will be heard next in the Senate and House Judiciary committees.

STATEMENT FROM ROBIN BRULE, A MEMBER OF EVERYTOWN SURVIVOR NETWORK WHOSE MOTHER WAS SHOT AND KILLED BY A HOME INTRUDER ONE YEAR AGO TODAY:

“One year ago today, my family received news we never could have imagined – my mother Ruth and her friend had been shot and killed while enjoying a cup of coffee at home. But today, we decided to honor my mother through action and join with gun safety advocates to call on legislators to pass a bill that is very important to us – Senate Bill 48/House Bill 50. I’m proud to support this legislation in honor of my mother, who dedicated her life to her community as a public school teacher in Albuquerque. Elected leaders from both sides of the aisle have the opportunity to pass a law that puts the safety of their constituents first.”

STATEMENT FROM CHERYL HAASE, VOLUNTEER WITH THE NEW MEXICO CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA:

“Gun violence is an issue we should all be concerned with – it affects us all. We all deserve lives free from the threat of gun violence, whether we’re at school, at work, at church, at a club or simply enjoying life in New Mexico. We have the opportunity to make a difference and to help save lives, which starts with passing legislation to help keep guns out of dangerous hands in the first place. Senate Bill 48/House Bill 50 will do just that, and our legislators will be putting the public safety of our families and communities first by voting ‘yes’ on this life-saving legislation.”

STATEMENT FROM NELSON SANCHEZ, FORMER DETECTIVE WITH THE ALBUQUERQUE POLICE DEPARTMENT:

“As a father, gun owner, former Marine and former member of the Albuquerque Police Department, I know that the easy access dangerous people have to guns in our state has a direct impact on the safety of our communities. We can respect the right to bear arms while respecting the rights of our neighbors to live free from gun violence. That starts with something as simple as closing the background check loophole that allows people to obtain firearms from unlicensed sellers with no background check, no questions asked.”

Under current law, background checks are only required for sales conducted by licensed gun dealers, so criminals, domestic abusers and other dangerous people can buy guns from unlicensed sellers – including complete strangers they meet online and at gun shows – with no background check, no questions asked.

Background checks are a proven way to help save lives. In states that close the background check loophole and require criminal background checks for all handgun sales, there are 53 percent fewer law enforcement officers shot and killed in the line of duty, 47 percent fewer women are shot to death by their intimate partners and there are 47 percent fewer firearm suicides.

Criminal background checks for all gun sales receives widespread support throughout the state, including support from New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence. Recent polling by Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund revealed that 87 percent of New Mexicans – including 84 percent of gun owners – support requiring criminal background checks for all gun sales.