As Governor Previews Gun Dealer Accountability and Trafficking Legislation, Advocates Urge Lawmakers to Act

SANTA FE, N.M. - Today, Everytown for Gun Safety, and its grassroots network, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, released the following statement on the New Mexico 2026 State of the State. In her remarks, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham previewed legislation to address gun dealer accountability, banning the sale of assault weapons, and gun trafficking. Gun safety advocates are urging lawmakers to act with urgency to confront one of the deadliest gun violence crises in the nation.
"Governor Lujan Grisham is right: New Mexico gun violence is not inevitable, and neither is the unchecked behavior of gun dealers who profit while communities pay the price," said Regina Griego, lead with the New Mexico chapter of Moms Demand Action. "Gun trafficking and reckless sales are fueling violence across New Mexico, and lawmakers must act to hold irresponsible dealers accountable and stop the flow of illegal guns into our communities. This is a critical step toward making New Mexican communities safer."
New Mexico has the third highest gun death rates in the country, with gun violence rising far faster than the national average in recent years. Illegal gun trafficking and irresponsible sales practices continue to flood communities with dangerous weapons, fueling shootings, youth gun violence, and devastating loss of life.
While the state has made progress by enacting lifesaving gun safety laws, far too many dangerous weapons are still flowing into communities through gun trafficking, straw purchasing, and reckless dealer practices. Law enforcement officials have repeatedly linked the rise in gun violence - including guns showing up in schools and youth violence - to the ease with which firearms can be diverted into the illegal market. More information about gun violence in New Mexico is available here.
The legislation previewed by the Governor would take direct aim at the gun trafficking crisis by strengthening accountability for gun dealers and closing gaps that allow dangerous weapons to flood New Mexico communities. Responsible dealers who follow the law have nothing to fear, but those who repeatedly put profit over public safety must be held accountable for the harm they cause.
Firearms are now one of the leading causes of death for children and teens in New Mexico, killing an estimated 50 children and teens every year. At the same time, gun violence inflicts staggering financial costs on the state, with each gun homicide costing more than $12 million and gun violence draining billions of dollars annually from New Mexico's economy through medical care, law enforcement response, and lost productivity.
Learn more about New Mexico gun violence and proposed solutions here.