Replies

New today is the bill's fiscal impact report and comments from the DPS, AG and other agencies. They have so many concerns that those alone could very likely sink the bill if it advances out of this committee. For example:

The Department of Public Safety (DPS) maintains that HB 77, if enacted, would have an undetermined but possibly major fiscal impact on DPS. DPS estimates the bill will require $720.3.0K in recurring costs and $125.0K in one-time costs to perform the functional requirements of the bill. Personal services costs are estimated at $18.47/hr plus 44 percent benefits and inclusive of shift differential and holiday pay. In addition, the Department does not have office space available to house this staff.
The AGO maintains the bill is not clear with regard to what would constitute “relevant databases and information sources” which must be checked by the DPS to approve a private firearm transfer. AGO adds that the bill would criminalize many common transactions that occur with firearms, in particular the purchasing curio and relic firearms, civilian marksmanship program firearms, and the like would be impossible as the sellers or sources of those firearms would be unable to comply with the provisions of this bill. Additionally, simple transfers of firearms within a family would become a burdensome and expensive practice. Another example AGO identifies is a situation where an adult child would have to be vetted by the system before receiving a firearm from a parent or grandparent.
The AGO indicates HB 77 would require the DPS and transferors of firearms to keep records of transactions for a period of five years. This does not seem tailored to achieve the objective of the legislation – to ensure that purchasers or firearms in the private realm are legally authorized to possess them. It also creates the potential for identity theft by way of a simple Inspection of Public Records Act request.

Fiscal Impact Report

Its pretty obvious that the Dems that introduced the bill did so to take advantage of Obama's national effort to undermine the second amendment and also are taking advantage of the deaths of five family members by a 15-year old boy ten days ago in ABQ. BTW, four of the five were killed by a .22 cal rifle; the dad was killed by an "assault weapon." The guns were kept in a closet in the home and not in a gun safe.