Taking Shots at New Mexico's Gun Laws
You've got the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) heading back into the legal trenches. Fresh lawsuit filed, they're targeting New Mexico's Attorney General, Raúl Torrez, for trying to keep a seven-day "cooling off" period intact that they've already been told is unconstitutional. Look, this ain't their first rodeo with this law—they're having to yank out the legal playbook again to deal with the state stubbornly sticking to its guns, pun intended.
Grappling with Legal Rulings Ignored
What gives, right? Last we checked, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit had ruled that this whole rigmarole violates Second Amendment rights. Background checks on firearms have to be quick and clean, not bottlenecked by some waiting period that's been slapped down by the courts. But here we are, with New Mexico itching to push it through again after twice being told to kill the noise.
The NSSF’s General Counsel, Lawrence G. Keane, didn't mince words. He basically called out the misuse of government power, pointing out that criminals aren't the types waiting in line for a legal gun.
The Legal Slog Continues
- Challenge Ortega v. Grisham: This case saw the court siding with the NSSF, calling out the overreach on legal gun buyers.
- Permanent Injunction: A summary judgment was given to stop the enforcement, but the state is back at it, appealing yet again while still pushing enforcement. Talk about flogging a dead horse.
Who’s Really Losing Here?
NSSF claims this mess is a "grotesque misuse of government power"—and frankly, who picks up the tab? Taxpayers, of course. They’re already footing the bill for a law that's been slapped down not once, but twice.
It's a strange day in court when you're challenging the state for enforcing a law that the courts have already tossed out the window.
Now, according to NSSF, legitimate buyers and retailers are the ones caught in the crossfire, trying to exercise rights that seem pretty black and white under the Second Amendment.
NSSF's Stance Firm as Ever
This isn't the NSSF's first legal go-around. They're the mouthpiece and shield for a ton of manufacturers, dealers, and enthusiasts across the U.S. They aren't about to see these rights get crushed under bureaucratic stubbornness. It feels like a rinse and repeat, with the NSSF again having to reach for legal recourse just to keep things above board.
While the original case only protected the named plaintiffs, the NSSF is steeling themselves not just to defend their own membership but federally licensed gun sellers who might be staring down penalties for a law already declared dead in the water.
What’s Next on the Horizon?
So, what happens now? Well, it’s a war of attrition waiting to see who caves first. There's confidence from NSSF’s camp—predicting victory in the courts once again. But it's anyone's guess when the state's going to throw in the towel. From here, it's a waiting game, albeit ironic given the law’s context.
Bottom line, until those in charge decide to heed the legal stop signs, it looks like it’s all systems go for NSSF as they continue to drag this case over the legal finish line. The stakes are as high as they've been, impacting gun rights across the country.
