New Mexico Democrats press for gun background checks

Democrats in the New Mexico House of Representatives pushed toward final legislative approval of a gun control bill to expand background checks to nearly all private sales of firearms.

The House on Monday evening began final deliberations of a Senate-approved bill to close loopholes on background checks for private person-to-person sales. Sheriffs across much of the state have threatened not to enforce gun regulations that they find unconstitutional.

School teacher and state Rep. Debra Sarinana of Albuquerque presented the bill to expands background checks to private sales that increasingly take place through online gun marketplaces. Checks against a federal database are designed to weed out prohibited buyers such as convicted felons and people with severe mental disorders.

The bill provides exemptions for antique gun sales and sales between family members.

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