Concealed Carry in New Mexico

No for concealed carry on the person. New Mexico requires a concealed handgun license to carry a loaded concealed handgun on foot; DPS says that without a license (from New Mexico or a state New Mexico recognizes) 'you may not have the weapon concealed on your person when you exit your vehicle or motorcycle.' Exceptions noted by DPS: a person not otherwise prohibited may keep a concealed loaded firearm in a vehicle without a license, and open carry is legal without a license.

Concealed Handgun License, issued by the Department of Public Safety (Concealed Carry Unit). Shall-issue: 'The department shall issue a concealed handgun license to an applicant who' is a U.S. citizen; a New Mexico resident (or armed-forces member stationed in New Mexico, or a dependent); 'is twenty-one years of age or older'; is not disqualified; and has completed a department-approved firearms training course for the category and largest caliber of handgun to be carried. The course 'shall be not less than fifteen hours in length' and includes live shooting. Fees (10.8.2.12 NMAC): 'a non-refundable application fee of $100 for new applications and $75 for renewal applications.' Licenses are 'valid for a period of four years from the date of issuance' (DPS: military, law enforcement and retired law enforcement licenses five years). A licensee must take a two-hour refresher course 22 to 26 months after issuance, and a four-hour course to renew. DPS decides within 30 days after receiving a complete application and background check. A licensee may carry 'only one concealed handgun at any given time' and must carry the physical license.

New Mexico honors concealed carry licenses from (DPS list, 'New Mexico will accept'): Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Kansas, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota (effective 5-20-2024), Texas, Virginia and Wyoming. Reciprocity applies only to licenses held by people who are not New Mexico residents, 'visiting or passing through the state'. New residents must apply to transfer their license within 90 days.

DPS lists places where a handgun may NOT be carried, 'openly or concealed': schools (except in a vehicle if older than 19; § 30-7-2.1, fourth degree felony); university premises (except in a vehicle if older than 19; § 30-7-2.4); preschools (§ 29-19-8); courts, without the presiding judge's consent (§ 29-19-11); tribal land unless authorized by the tribe or pueblo (§ 29-19-10); public buses (§ 30-7-13); airport security zones; federal property; and private property posted against carrying or where the owner says no. Licensees may not carry in establishments licensed to sell alcohol for on-premises consumption, except restaurants licensed only for beer and wine that derive at least 60% of gross receipts from food and are not posted (§ 30-7-3). Since 2024, possessing a firearm within 100 feet of a polling-place voter entrance during early voting or on election day, or within 50 feet of a monitored ballot drop box from 28 days before an election, is a petty misdemeanor, except for people in private vehicles and concealed handgun licensees carrying concealed.

DPS: 'New Mexico law allows a person who is not otherwise prohibited to have a concealed loaded firearm in his/her vehicle (including motorcycles and bicycles).' Without a license (New Mexico or recognized state), the person 'may not have the weapon concealed on your person' after leaving the vehicle. The one-concealed-handgun limit for licensees 'does not apply to firearms carried in your vehicles'. Persons over 19 may keep a firearm in a vehicle on school and university premises (DPS). Statute: the concealed-carry offense does not apply to carrying 'in a private automobile or other private means of conveyance, for lawful protection of the person's or another's person or property' (§ 30-7-2(A)(2)); on school and university premises the vehicle exception is limited to 'a person older than nineteen years of age' (§§ 30-7-2.1(A)(5), 30-7-2.4(A)(5)).