Location Restrictions in New Mexico

New Mexico generally prohibits the carrying of firearms in the following locations:

• In an establishment licensed to dispense alcoholic beverages 1 unless, among other exceptions: “The possessor has a valid concealed handgun license; and The establishment: a) does not serve alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises; or b) is a restaurant licensed to sell only beer and wine that derives not less than 60% of its annual gross receipts from the sale of food for consumption on the premises, unless the restaurant has posted conspicuous signs prohibiting gun possession or verbally instructs the possessor that the carrying of guns is prohibited”; 2

• Within or upon any game refuge, unless the person is crossing the refuge over a public road or trail with the firearm unloaded, or the director of the refuge granted the possessor a permit; 3

• In the confines of a county or municipal jail; 4

• On the grounds of a designated adult correctional institution; 5

• On the grounds of a designated child detention or correctional facility; 6

• For any loaded firearm, whether concealed or unconcealed, within a state park, except during designated hunting seasons or in certain authorized areas. People with valid concealed carry permits are exempt from this prohibition. 7 and
• Within 100 feet of a polling place, or 50 feet of a ballot box. People with valid concealed carry permits and people conducting lawful non-election-related business, are exempt from this prohibition. 8

With the exceptions noted above, concealed handgun license holders are subject to these generally applicable possession prohibitions. 9 A concealed handgun licensee also may not carry a concealed handgun on private property where signs are posted prohibiting the carrying of concealed weapons, or when verbally told of the prohibition by a person lawfully in possession of the property. 10

A concealed handgun licensee is not valid in a courthouse or court facility unless authorized by the presiding judicial officer 11 or on tribal land unless authorized by the governing body of an Indian nation, tribe or pueblo. 12 However, a concealed carry license is not required in New Mexico to openly carry so no state law prohibits people from openly carrying in courthouses.

Local court rules may prohibit firearms in courthouses or judicial complexes. 13

New Mexico has no statutes prohibiting firearms in the following places, although administrative regulations may apply:

• Hospitals;

• Places of worship;

• Sports arenas; or

• Gambling facilities.

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1. N.M. Stat. Ann. § 30-7-3(A). [ ↩ ]
2. N.M. Stat. Ann. § 30-7-3(A)(4). [ ↩ ]
3. N.M. Stat. Ann. § 17-2-12. [ ↩ ]
4. N.M. Stat. Ann. § 30-22-14(B). [ ↩ ]
5. N.M. Stat. Ann. § 30-22-14(A). [ ↩ ]
6. N.M. Stat. Ann. § 30-22-14.1(A), (B)(1). [ ↩ ]
7. N.M. Code R. § 19.5.2.21(A)(5). [ ↩ ]
8. 2024 N.M. S.B. 5. [ ↩ ]
9. N.M. Stat. Ann. § 29-19-8(A) provides that nothing in the Concealed Handgun Carry Act, N.M. Stat. Ann. §§ 29-19-1 – 29-19-14, shall be construed as allowing a licensee to carry a concealed handgun into or on premises where to do so would be in violation of state or federal law. [ ↩ ]
10. N.M. Code R. §§ 10.8.2.16(F); 10.8.2.27. [ ↩ ]
11. N.M. Stat. Ann. § 29-19-11. [ ↩ ]
12. N.M. Stat. Ann. § 29-19-10. [ ↩ ]
13. See, e.g., 13th Jud. Dist. R. 210. [ ↩ ]

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