History of the NM CCW Law

JUNE 2001

• The New Mexico legislature approves the first concealed carry law effective July 1, 2001.

NOVEMBER 2001

• NM DPS suspends implementation of concealed carry based on impending challenge to NM Supreme Court that the "opt out" portion of the law for municipalities is unconstitutional

JUNE 2002

• NM Supreme Court rules the first concealed carry law is indeed unconstitutional

• NM DPS suspension of training and instructor certification becomes permanent

JULY 2003

• Second NM CCW law is passed
• Each gun desired on CCW permit had to be qualified with. Some students are qualifying with 7 or 8 different guns.
• Minimum age is 25
• License good for 2 years
• Cannot carry into any store selling liquor, including grocery stores and drug stores, such as Walgreens

DECEMBER 2003

• NM DPS announces first batch of approved NM CCW instructors.

JANUARY 2004

• NM DPS issues the first batch of Concealed Carry Licenses

MAY 2004

• Second challenge of the concealed carry law is put before the NM Supreme Court based on NM Constitution language regarding "nothing herein" 
• NM Supreme Court throws out the challenge, agreeing with the State that it was legal for the legislature to pass the concealed carry law.

JANUARY 2005

• Second NM concealed carry law goes into effect

NOVEMBER 2005

• The age limit for license holders was lowered to 21 from 25.
• Licenses valid for 4 years instead of 2.  
• License holders need to re-qualify on the range every 2 years (2-hour refresher training).
• License holders need to renew every 4 years and re-qualify on the range (4-hour renewal training).
  • New application for renewal, $75 fee, new fingerprint cards, new releases, etc.
• They will be able to carry any firearm of the same type (revolver, semi-auto, derringer), of the same or smaller caliber than that with which they qualified.  
• Most law enforcement officers, currently employed and retired will be able to obtain a license with departmental training instead of the private training required for all others. They will also be exempt for paying the application fee.

JULY 2007

• CCW holders can now carry into stores selling liquor for OFFSITE consumption, e.g., OK to carry concealed into grocery stores, Walgreens, etc., unless a specifically posted prohibition exists.

JULY 2010

• NM concealed carry holders allowed to carry concealed into restaurants that serve only beer and wine (unless specifically indicated otherwise via signage or personal notification).

NOVEMBER 2017

• NM DPS now allows regular photocopies of birth certificates to be submitted with the initial application package.

DECEMBER 2017

• NM DPS now allows 2-year (license mid-term) refresher training to take place online as well as shooting the course of fire.