Hypocrisy on Display: Nm Senate Calls Gun Regulations "Public Safety" - but Abortion Reporting "Too Burdensome"
(Online Version): https://www.abortionfreenm.com/news/hypocrisy-on-display-nm-senate-calls-gun-regulations-public-safety-but-abortion-reporting-too-burdensome
By Bud Shaver,
Albuquerque, New Mexico — In a 24–15 vote, the New Mexico Senate passed SB 30, repealing the state's abortion reporting requirement. Notably, senior Democrat Senator Pete Campos voted with Republicans against the bill.
SB 30 eliminates a statute that currently requires all abortions induced in the state to be reported within five days to the state registrar, either by the institution in which it was performed or by the attending physician if performed outside of an institution.
The reporting requirement does not publish patient names. It exists for statistical, public health, and oversight purposes.
Now it will be gone.
At the same time, many of the same lawmakers advancing SB 30 have supported sweeping new regulatory burdens on law-abiding gun owners and firearm dealers under SB 17 — arguing that compliance costs, operational mandates, and equipment restrictions are justified for "public safety."
Abortion Free New Mexico says the contrast is impossible to ignore.
"New Mexico Democrats are saying security mandates and heavy compliance rules are perfectly reasonable for gun dealers — but a five-day reporting form for abortion providers is suddenly 'too burdensome,'" said Tara Shaver, spokesperson for Abortion Free New Mexico.
"If paperwork is accountability when it comes to firearms, why is paperwork oppression when it comes to abortion? The inconsistency speaks for itself."
Below is a breakdown of what SB 17 imposes on gun dealers versus what SB 30 repeals for abortion providers.
A Vote Against Transparency
Under current law, abortion providers must submit basic procedural data to the state registrar within five days. SB 30 repeals that requirement entirely — without replacing it with any new oversight mechanism.
Supporters framed the repeal as necessary to protect providers from harassment and administrative burden.
Opponents warned it eliminates one of the last remaining abortion oversight statutes in New Mexico.
During floor debate, Senator Gabe Ramos (R) and Senator Jay Block (R) delivered strong speeches opposing the bill, raising concerns about transparency, public accountability, and the precedent of erasing reporting requirements rather than enforcing them.
Abortion Free New Mexico applauds lawmakers who stood for oversight.
"This isn't about privacy — the law already protected patient identity," Shaver continued."This is about data. Public record. Accountability. When tax dollars fund abortion in New Mexico, the public has a right to know what is happening. Transparency should not depend on political preference."
Two Standards, One Legislature
Under SB 17, firearm dealers may face new security mandates, physical upgrades, inventory requirements, and sales restrictions — all defended as necessary safeguards.
Under SB 30, abortion providers are relieved of even submitting basic statistical reports.
Abortion Free New Mexico says the message from lawmakers is clear:
Heavy regulation is acceptable — even celebrated — when applied to constitutionally protected gun ownership.
But minimal reporting becomes "too burdensome" when applied to the abortion industry.
"If Democrats truly believe regulation protects the public, they should apply that principle consistently," said Shaver."Instead, we are watching accountability erased for one industry while expanded for another. That is not neutral governance. That is ideology."
"If it wasn't for double standards, New Mexico lawmakers would have no standards at all."
Both Bills Advance to the House
Both SB 30 and SB 17 have now passed the New Mexico Senate and face upcoming committee hearings in the House of Representatives.
Abortion Free New Mexico is urging House members to reject both measures.
New Mexicans who believe in transparency, constitutional rights, and consistent standards of governanceare encouraged to contact their state representatives and urge them to vote:
🔴 NO on SB 30
🔴 NO on SB 17
The public deserves equal accountability — not selective regulation.
New Mexico cannot afford a Legislature that expands regulation when it fits an agenda and erases oversight when it becomes inconvenient. Accountability should not depend on which industry is politically protected.
If lawmakers claim regulation protects the public, they must apply that principle consistently — or admit it was never about public safety at all.
The House now has a choice: restore transparency and defend constitutional rights — or double down on selective enforcement and ideological governance.
Our Mission
Abortion Free New Mexico (AFNM) is a watchdog organization dedicated to investigating abortion practices, documenting patient harm and regulatory gaps, and promoting transparency, accountability, and enforcement of healthcare standards in New Mexico.
Our Vision
We seek a New Mexico where abortion no longer exists, preborn children are protected, and all medical care is governed by rigorous standards, public accountability, and respect for human life.
Abortion Free New Mexico leaders Bud and Tara Shaver have served as full-time pro-life missionaries in New Mexico since 2010, focusing on investigative research, public documentation, and outreach.
Their work has drawn national attention, with critics describing them as among the country's most outspoken opponents of abortion.
In collaboration with Operation Rescue and Fr. Stephen Imbarrato, the Shavers conducted groundbreaking investigative research that brought national scrutiny to New Mexico's abortion practices, helping establish the state as a destination for late-term abortions based on publicly documented findings and national reporting.
Following the U.S. Supreme Court's Dobbs decision, the Shavers' work has expanded to document the sharp increase in out-of-state abortion travel into New Mexico, often referred to as abortion tourism, and the resulting strain on oversight, transparency, and patient safety. Today, Abortion Free New Mexico is pressing state and federal lawmakers to address the lack of routine licensing, inspections, and accountability for abortion clinics operating in New Mexico.
Learn more about why New Mexico became a focal point:
