New Mexico concealed carry laws and reciprocity

A licensee carrying a concealed handgun in public must display the license upon demand by a peace officer (10.8.2.16(D) NMAC) and must have the license in possession at all times while carrying (NMSA 29-19-9); no duty to volunteer was found.

DPS states a person not otherwise prohibited may have a concealed loaded firearm in his or her vehicle, including motorcycles and bicycles, without a license; without a recognized license the handgun may not be concealed on the person after exiting.

Carrying a concealed loaded handgun on the person requires a New Mexico license or a license New Mexico recognizes; DPS states that carrying a holstered handgun in plain view (open carry) is legal without a license.

Under NMSA 29-19-4 the department shall issue a concealed handgun license to an applicant who meets the listed qualifications, including U.S. citizenship, New Mexico residency, age 21 and an approved training course; licenses are valid for four years.

Applicants must be New Mexico residents or members of the armed forces whose permanent duty station is in New Mexico, or their dependents (NMSA 29-19-4(A)(2)).

DPS states New Mexico is an open carry state, so a holstered handgun in plain view is legal as long as it is not concealed; it remains prohibited in places such as schools and federal buildings.

A licensee may not carry a concealed handgun on private property posted with signs prohibiting concealed weapons or after being verbally told not to by the person lawfully in possession (NMSA 29-19-12; 10.8.2.16(F) NMAC; posting under NMSA 30-14-6).

Carrying in an establishment licensed to dispense alcohol is prohibited except as allowed by NMSA 30-7-3; licensees may carry in beer-and-wine restaurants earning at least 60% of gross receipts from food unless posted or verbally prohibited, and may not consume alcohol while carrying.

DPS answers 'Yes' to whether a licensee may carry in state parks, referring to the state parks rule at 19.5.2.21 NMAC.

Neither the Concealed Handgun Carry Act nor the DPS licensing rules reproduced in the DPS booklet list places of worship as prohibited; under 10.8.2.16(F) NMAC a licensee may not carry a concealed handgun on private property posted with signs prohibiting concealed weapons or after being told verbally by the person lawfully in possession of the property.

Carrying a firearm on university premises is prohibited except as allowed by law (NMSA 30-7-2.4, petty misdemeanor); DPS notes an exception for a firearm in a vehicle if the person is older than 19.

DPS lists schools and university premises (except in a vehicle if older than 19), preschools, courts without the presiding judge's consent, tribal land unless authorized, public buses, airport security zones, federal property, and private property posted or verbally closed to carry. Firearms are also barred within 100 feet of polling place entrances during voting, except for concealed-handgun licensees and persons in private vehicles (NMSA 1-20-24).

New Mexico has no stand-your-ground statute, but the Supreme Court-approved Uniform Jury Instruction UJI 14-5190 NMRA (as amended effective December 31, 2025) states that a person defending against an attack, defending another, or defending property need not retreat and may stand their ground; the committee commentary cites State v. Horton, 1953-NMSC-044, for the rule that a person need not retreat even though they could do so safely.

New Mexico has no state magazine capacity limit; 2025 Senate Bill 279, which would have prohibited large-capacity ammunition feeding devices, was not among the bills passed in the 2025 or 2026 sessions.

New Mexico has no state assault weapons ban; 2025 Senate Bill 279 (Gas-Operated Semiautomatic Firearms Exclusion Act) proposed one but was not among the bills passed in the 2025 or 2026 sessions.

Not yet verified from an official source.

Not yet verified from an official source.

Not yet verified from an official source.