NM: "Universal Background Checks" Stopped in New Mexico Legislature

Michael Bloomberg has continued to pump money into state politics to find ways to infringe on the Second Amendment. His latest attempt was stopped in New Mexico on Monday, 13 March, 2017.  A key vote against the measure came form Representative Eliseo Alcon (D) Milan.

From nmpolitics.com:

A legislative committee on Monday effectively killed a bill to expand background checks for gun purchases — an issue that drew large crowds to the Capitol as well as big campaign contributions and intense lobbying and advertising.

The House Judiciary Committee voted 7-6 to table House Bill 548 after a lengthy hearing. It marked the defeat of the most recent gun-control bill sponsored by Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard, D-Los Alamos.

Democrat Eliseo Alcon of Milan joined the six Republicans on the panel to stop the measure, which would have required background checks on all sales of firearms at gun shows and from advertisements on the internet or print publications.

 Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund spent $250,000 in New Mexico elections in 2016. From everytown.org:

In total, Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund spent more than $250,000 during the 2016 election in New Mexico.

The NRA only spent $10K in 2016, but spent $44,377 in 2017 opposing the current gun control scheme in New Mexico. The money went to buy Internet ads to oppose the "Universal Background Check" measures.

Representative Eliseo Alcon of Milan did not receive any money from Everytown or from the NRA in 2016. Eliseo, who is called "Lee" by friends and supporters, is a disabled Vietnam veteran. He was a judge before being elected to the legislature. Milan is a small town of 3,600 people that is located about half way between Albuquerque and the Arizona border.

32 or 33 New Mexico Sheriffs opposed the legislation. From abquournal.com:

Opponents say the regulations wouldn’t actually deter criminals, who would just ignore them, and merely inconvenience law-abiding citizens. Sheriffs across New Mexico have turned out to oppose the legislation and say it wouldn’t have prevented Webster’s death because dangerous criminals will still find a way to get firearms.

 New Mexico is moderately gun friendly state that leans Democrat. It is also a mostly rural state that does not like to be pushed around by out of state interests. Democrats hold majorities in both houses. Second Amendment supporters count on rural Democrats like Representative Eliseo Alcon, to honor their oath to support the Constitution.

©2017 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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