Concealed Carry

 
WHERE TO GO AND WHAT TO DO

    For complete information, including the law and NM Dept. of Public Safety (DPS) rules, go to www.dps.nm.org .

    The first step in obtaining a concealed carry license is to find an approved instructor. NM requires 15 hours of training including live fire by an approved instructor. As of this writing (June 2009), there are over 200 approved instructors. The list of approved instructors and their phone numbers can be downloaded from www.dps.nm.org/did/concealed_instructors.htm. Most instructors will provide you with a complete packet of information and forms as part of their class as well as the required certificate of training.

    If they do not, you can pick up this packet, titled “New Mexico Concealed Handgun Carry Act of 2003”, from either DPS or most State Police offices. All of this information, including both the law and the DPS rules can be downloaded from www.dps.nm.org . The fingerprint cards cannot be downloaded and that is why it is necessary to obtain the packet.

    Included in this packet are the application, finger print cards (2 each) and two release forms. The release forms give DPS the right to obtain medical information and any other information including felonies and misdemeanors. The application and release forms require notarization. Also required is a copy of your birth certificate or proof of United States citizenship (if you were not born in the US) and a copy of your NM Drivers License. The birth certificate can be obtained from the state of your birth or if you were born abroad, you can get a copy of your certificate of birth of a US citizen abroad from the State Department or a Naturalization Certificate from the Department of Immigration and Naturalization. Passports are not acceptable in lieu of a birth certificate.

    DPS instructions for submission of the application need to be exactly followed or the application will be returned as incomplete.

    Instructor cost and rules differ. Some allow only factory ammunition, some charge for multiple handguns, some require drawing a loaded handgun from the holster during training, etc. When you contract with an instructor, the instructor should provide you with his rules, a list of what to bring to the training and directions to the classroom and range where the training will be conducted.

    Note that current law in New Mexico requires that your license lists the type and largest caliber of firearm that you are qualified to carry. The three types of firearms are: semi-auto, revolver, and derringer. So, if you qualify with a 9mm semi-auto, a .44 caliber revolver, and a .41 caliber derringer, you can carry any one of those guns or you may carry one of that type that is smaller but not one of that type that is larger. In other words, given the qualification above, you can carry a .32 semi-auto but not a .40 semi-auto even though you qualified with a .44 revolver. Also, even if you qualified with a .44 magnum, you cannot carry a .45 revolver. Finally, note that you can only carry one concealed handgun at a time in New Mexico.

    Upon completion of training the instructor will provide you with a certificate of training that needs to be included in your submission to DPS. DPS instructions for submission of the application need to be exactly followed or the application will be returned as incomplete.