Staff Reports
The latest stunt from New Mexico’s Democratic lawmakers is straight from the playbook of gun grabbers everywhere: the proposal of a bill to ban semiautomatic rifles. Leading the charge is State Senator Debbie O’Malley, who presumably believes that banning certain firearms will make society a safer place. Her “Gas-Operated Semiautomatic Firearms Exclusion Act” claims to allow existing gun owners to keep their weapons, but only after jumping through hoops that would make a circus juggler weep with frustration.
Under this proposed legislation, any gas-operated semiautomatic rifle will be banned from sale or transfer, alongside large-capacity magazines that hold more than ten rounds. But fear not, because there’s a silver lining for law enforcement and military personnel—they’re still free to enjoy their firepower without the pesky certifications that O’Malley insists regular citizens must endure. It’s like giving a gold star to your buddy while leaving the rest in the dust.
The certification process involves shedding some light on who possesses which firearms, paving the way for a state registry. Gun owners must carry their certification forms while bearably parading their beloved rifles in public. Yes, that’s right—if a New Mexican wishes to display their firearm proudly, they must also carry paperwork like a toddler who forgot their lunch ticket. Talk about bureaucratic overreach masquerading as responsibility!
Meanwhile, anyone caught holding one of these freshly criminalized firearms could find themselves slapped with a fourth-degree felony for daring to possess what was once legally theirs. No doubt, this proposal is draped in the language of safety, but it functions more like a restraining order against personal liberties. The legislation seeks to criminalize an entire class of citizens through a sheer wave of flawed logic, all while keeping high-ranking figures with badges exempt from the same restrictions. Talk about a double standard!
Anti-Gunner State Lawmakers Want to Ban Semiautomatic Rifles
https://t.co/W9FFZizSGp— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) February 10, 2025
Democrats hold the reins in New Mexico’s House and Senate, making the bill’s passage seem feasible unless agitated constituents rally like they did after Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham decided to ban carrying firearms in Albuquerque. The resulting backlash was nothing short of carnival-like, complete with protests and even a local sheriff openly refusing to enforce the governor’s unconstitutional order. While O’Malley and her cohorts may bask in the glow of their proposed legislation, history shows that the defiance of the people can quickly dismantle such governmental overreach.
Even if these Democrats manage to push this proposal through, there’s a decent chance it will meet its end in court. Precedents set by Supreme Court rulings, such as the one in New York Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, emphasize the responsibility of local and state governments to justify their bans with historical precedent—a challenge likely to expose the flimsy foundations of this radical legislation. As the gun rights community braces for battle, one can’t help but wonder whether this latest effort to regulate away citizen rights will end in flame or simply go up in smoke.
