Everytown, New Mexico Moms Demand Action Applaud House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee Passage of Legislation to Require Criminal Background Checks For All Gun Sales

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 Revealed 87 Percent of New Mexicans Support Criminal Background Checks for All Gun Sales, Including 84 Percent of Gun Owners

SANTA FE, N.M. – The New Mexico chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today applauded the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee passage of House Bill 50, legislation to close the background check loophole in New Mexico and require criminal background checks for all gun sales.

Earlier today, volunteers with the New Mexico chapter of Moms Demand Action and New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence testified in support of House Bill 50.

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

“The current background check system in New Mexico has a dangerous loophole that enables criminals, including convicted felons and domestic abusers, to go online or to a gun show and buy a gun with no background check, no questions asked. This loophole has serious consequences and allows guns to easily fall into dangerous hands. Today, I’m proud our legislators in the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee voted to put the safety of their communities before the gun lobby’s interests. I, along with my fellow members of Moms Demand Action, will be there every step of the way in this process to remind our elected officials that the stakes are high and urge them to continue this progress in bringing House Bill 50 to Governor Martinez’s desk.”

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.