State Gun Laws

If a convicted felon is in possession of a gun, s/he is guilty of a felony in the third degree. The punishment for a felony in the third degree is up to three years in prison and up to $5,000 in fines.¹ However, if ten years have passed since the person completed serving his/her sentence or period of probation for the felony, then this New Mexico state law may not apply because s/he may no longer be considered a “felon” in possession of a gun.²

Any person who has a gun while there is a final domestic violence order of protection against him/her could be committing a misdemeanor.³

It can also violate federal law for someone to have a gun if s/he has been convicted of certain crimes or when there is a protection order against him/her. For more information, see our Federal Gun Laws page.

¹ N.M.S.A. §§ 30-7-16(A)(1), (B); 31-18-15(A), (E)(11)
² N.M.S.A. § 30-7-16(E)(3)(a)
³ N.M.S.A. § 30-7-16(D)