| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CONTACT: | Carol Wight, CEO |
| 3/16/09 | 505-343-9848 | |
| executive@nmrestaurants.org |
Call and E-Mail Senators Today to Oppose HB 105, Concealed Handgun Bill
Please call and email the Senate Judiciary Committee (listed below) TODAY. Tell them you oppose HB105. You don’t want handguns, concealed or otherwise in your restaurant.
TALKING POINTS ON CONCEALED HANDGUN BILL
I oppose House Bill 105 which amends Section 30-7-3 NMSA 1978 to allow a person to carry a concealed handgun (into restaurants with liquor licenses), when in possession of a valid concealed handgun license for that gun pursuant to the Concealed Handgun Carry Act, on the premises of a licensed establishment that derives a majority of its annual gross receipts from the sale of food for consumption on the premises.
What assurances do we have that the concealed carry licensees are better equipped to handle alcohol than the general public? None? It’s still guns and alcohol and they still don’t mix. This seems like one of those laws that we will look back on and ask “What were we thinking?”.
How will the concealed gun permit carrier know whether a restaurant with a liquor license in fact derives a majority of its gross receipts from food or alcohol, before he enters the premises.
What if someone comes into a restaurant with a gun. How does a server know they are licensed to carry? Do we ask? If they don’t have a license doesn’t that put the server in a VERY awkward position? If they do have a license, are we required to check it? Do we need yet more server training? If this passes do we have to card for these licenses as people walk into our restaurant?
I am also very concerned about people without a license, carrying a weapon into a restaurant and putting a server in the position of having to ask for a license to carry a concealed weapon. Once again, it puts restaurants and servers in charge of law enforcement.
Please oppose HB105.
SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
| Senator | Cisco McSorley (D) | Chair | 505-986-4485 |
| Senator | Richard C. Martinez (D) | Vice Chair | 505-986-4389 |
| Senator | Tim Eichenberg (D) | Member | 505-986-4859 |
| Senator | Clinton D. Harden (R) | Member | 505-986-4369 |
| Senator | Linda M. Lopez (D) | Member | 505-986-4737 |
| Senator | Sander Rue (R) | Member | 505-986-4375 |
| Senator | John C. Ryan (R) | Member | 505-986-4373 |
| Senator | Bernadette M. Sanchez (D) | Member | 505-986-4267 |
| Senator | Michael S. Sanchez (D) | Member | 505-986-4267 |
| Senator | Peter Wirth (D) | Member | 505-986-4276 |
| Senator | William H. Payne (R) | Ranking Member | 505-986-4703 |
The New Mexico Restaurant Association’s mission is to empower the food and beverage industry by promoting and protecting common values and interests. It has more than 1,000 members in 111 cities all over New Mexico, who join together for meetings, seminars and the hospitality industry awards to honor the industry’s top achievers. It has actively represented and promoted the food service industry in New Mexico since 1946.
