N.M. tightening concealed carry policy

KRQE TV

Updated: May 1, 2012 6:10 PM

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) — Carrying a concealed weapon in New Mexico comes with a long list of requirements.

You need to be 21, a U.S. citizen, pass a criminal background check and be properly trained to use the weapon safely.

"I believe New Mexico has a really strong concealed carry law," said Gorden Eden, the Department of Public Safety cabinet secretary. "Some states don't."

Not every state has all of those requirements. Alabama, for example, doesn't have a mandatory fingerprint-based criminal background check. Montana and several other states give licenses to those who are 18 and older, instead of 21. Texas, Colorado and Arizona issue concealed permits to resident aliens. 

According to state law, New Mexico can only accept concealed weapons permits from states that are "at least as stringent and substantially similar" to New Mexico's own licensing laws.

Although New Mexico accepts permits from and has agreements with 19 other states, only six states actually meet the legal requirement: Arkansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota and Oklahoma.

Included in the other 13 states are neighbors Texas, Colorado and Arizona, but DPS says current agreements to accept permits from those states are still valid.

Eden says his office is working with those states to ensure that those out-of-state permit holders who meet the requirements of both states still have their permits recognized in New Mexico.

Many gun owners expressed concerns to KRQE News 13 that if those agreements aren't worked out, there might be backlash against New Mexico permit holders. The worry is that if New Mexico doesn't accept another state's permits, that state won't accept New Mexico licenses.

But that's not always the case. Indiana, Nevada and several other states honor New Mexico concealed carry permits even though New Mexico doesn't honor theirs.

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