Senate Republican Leaders Applaud Federal Lawsuit Challenging Mandatory Waiting Period for Firearm Purchases
SANTA FE—The National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) has announced the filing of a federal lawsuit challenging New Mexico's mandatory waiting period for firearm purchases. Details regarding the lawsuit are available here.Â
Senate Republican Leader, Senator Greg Baca (R-Belen) and Senate Republican Whip, Senator Craig Brandt (R-Rio Rancho) today released the following statements in support of the lawsuit:
"This waiting period is an affront to our state and federal constitutions, and I am proud to see the Second Amendment community stepping up and pushing back," said Senator Baca. "The legality of a mandatory waiting period is clearly an open question. Nevertheless, the Democrat-led legislature irresponsibly forced this law upon us knowing full well that litigation would ensue. This is not what we wanted, but it is now necessary to preserve the rights of all law-abiding citizens to arm and defend themselves."
"If this law went unchallenged, it would jeopardize the infringement of all of our constitutionally guaranteed rights," added Senator Brandt. "This waiting period has no data and no legal grounds to support its supposed goals to reduce crime and violence. Rather, it is a direct assault on our liberty and I applaud the NRA-ILA for filing this legal challenge."