New gun laws could increase concealed carry permits

Firearms rights advocates said they are expecting an increase of New Mexicans applying for concealed carry permits in response to new gun laws in the state that go into effect May 15.

One of the bills, which Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed into law this year, creates a seven-day waiting period for most new gun purchases, with an exception for customers with concealed carry permits. Another bill signed into law prohibits guns a certain distance from polling places when voting is taking place, but there is also an exemption for concealed carry permit holders.

Until the new laws take effect, officials with the New Mexico Firearms Industry said, many customers — despite the loud drumbeat of stories on the legal and political battle over guns during the 2024 Legislature — have no idea what happened and what has changed.

Tom Kaye, of the New Mexico Firearms Industry Association, sees a traffic jam ahead at local gun stores.

“Most people are unaware of this new law,” Kaye wrote in an email. “When they are told that if they had an NM concealed carry license they could take the firearm home the same day, it will generate much more demand for concealed carry classes.”

And that’s already beginning to happen, Kaye said. Although it’s not a tsunami, the increase is noticeable, he said.

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Hawaii Man Victorious in Case involving Suitable Persons’ and Carry Permits

So-called “suitable persons” provisions in permitting laws are verboten per several Supreme Court opinions. When an issuing authority makes a subjective decision through their own thought process rather than through objective and definable criterion, it’s unconstitutional. Back in December I wrote about a guy that was denied a carry permit in Hawaii for allegedly being “not of ‘good moral character’ and/or ‘suitable.’” They other day Mr. Blake Day’s case received a stipulation to dismiss his case with prejudice, since he was eventually issued a Hawaii license to carry.

Mr. Day was denied a license to carry in the County of Hawaii for being “not of ‘good moral character’ and/or ‘suitable.’”

Drawing details from the complaint that was filed on the 6th of December, 2023, Mr. Day’s alleged lack of “good moral character” and suitability arises from what the Hawaii County Chief of Police stated was “due to ‘recent violent conduct.’” The so-called “violent conduct” is in reference to an incident where Mr. Day was forced to defend himself – with non-lethal force – while executing his duties as a contractor for a bank. The conflict resulted in no criminal charges.

The non-lethal force Mr. Day used was “a pepper spray air gun, firing it several times in self-defense,” because he was aggressively approached by a resident of a property that was supposed to be vacant. The resident was “yelling obscenities and ‘what are you doing at my house?’” at Mr. Day. Day stated that the resident “appeared to have something in his right hand and [he] believed it was a weapon.”

The stipulation was filed on March 28, 2024 and is as follows:

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April 1, 2024

April

Middle English April “April,” from early French avrill and Latin APRILIS

The name was given to the month by the ancient Romans. No one knows for certain why the Romans named it as they did. Some Roman authors, and my high school Latin teacher thought that Aprilis was related to the Latin verb aperire meaning “to open” because April “opened” the buds of leaves and flowers, and where we get the medical word ‘aperient’ which means a laxative.

Another theory is that the name was based on Apru, an Etruscan form of the name of the Greek goddess Aphrodite.

Police Say Man Was Shot By Homeowner At Wenatchee Residence

Wenatchee Police are investigating a shooting just after midnight Friday morning in the 300 block of South Wenatchee Avenue.

Officers say a 50-year-old man was shot by a homeowner who said the man tried to enter the residence.

Police Sergeant Nathan Hahn says they haven’t determined yet whether a crime was committed.

“Obviously a homeowner has the ability to protect themselves if they feel like they’re in danger or threatened,” said Hahn. “But in this case, we just don’t have enough information to be able to definitively say what exactly happened.”

The man was taken to Confluence Health Hospital Central Campus with a gunshot wound to his abdomen.

Police said the injuries did not appear to be life-threatening.

They say it does not appear the homeowner knew the man who is a Wenatchee resident.

No charges have been filed at this time.

The shooting took place at 12:05 am Friday. All four local law enforcement agencies were called to the scene initially – Wenatchee Police, East Wenatchee Police, Chelan County deputies, and Douglas County deputies.