SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A proposal to restrict firearms in part of the New Mexico Capitol has cleared a House committee but a similar proposal failed in a Senate panel.
The House Judiciary Committee endorsed a measure yesterday to ban firearms, except by law enforcement officers or people with concealed handgun licenses, in the House chambers, galleries and comittee rooms.
The proposal would establish the ban as rule of the House rather than changing state law. The measure goes to another House panel.
Earlier in the day, the Senate Rules Committee voted 4-2 against a proposed ban on guns in the Senate chambers and its committee rooms. Only police would have been exempted.
Even if the restrictions were imposed, guns could be carried in certain parts of the Capitol, including the rotunda.