Are firearms legal in New Mexico?

Q: Are firearms legal in New Mexico?

Firearms in New Mexico are legal only under specific conditions. A license is required to carry a loaded handgun concealed on your person. New Mexico issues licenses to residents (or stationed military) who are 21 or older. Visitors may carry concealed on a license from a state on New Mexico's list. New Mexico is not permitless for concealed carry. Open carry needs no license.

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NEW MEXICO · FIREARMS

Firearms

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Conditional: A license is required to carry a loaded handgun concealed on your person.

Conditional

Summary

A license is required to carry a loaded handgun concealed on your person. New Mexico issues licenses to residents (or stationed military) who are 21 or older. Visitors may carry concealed on a license from a state on New Mexico's list. New Mexico is not permitless for concealed carry. Open carry needs no license.

Source: dps.nm.gov → · Updated October 12, 2026

New Mexico Firearms topics

Concealed Carry in New Mexico →Conditional
A license is required to carry a loaded handgun concealed on your person.
Open Carry in New Mexico →Permitted
Open carry of a loaded handgun is legal in New Mexico without a license for anyone who can lawfully possess one, generally 19 or older, and location restrictions apply.
Magazine Capacity in New Mexico →Conditional
New Mexico has no magazine-capacity limit in effect right now.
Gun Possession in New Mexico →Conditional
New Mexico has a red-flag law (Extreme Risk Firearm Protection Order Act, 2020), and currently has no assault-weapon ban or magazine limit, though both have been proposed.
Transporting Firearms in New Mexico →Permitted
You may keep a loaded handgun, even concealed, in your private vehicle for lawful protection if you are not prohibited from having firearms.
Duty to Inform Police in New Mexico →Conditional
New Mexico has no proactive duty to inform, but a licensee must have the concealed handgun license in possession at all times while carrying (NMSA § 29-19-9) and, under the Department of Public Safety (DPS) carry rule (10.8.2 NMAC, updated effective December 9, 2025), must display it when a peace officer demands it.
Suppressors & Silencers in New Mexico →Conditional
Suppressors are legal in New Mexico, which has no state statute banning civilian possession (a 2023 ban attempt failed), once you go through the federal National Firearms Act (NFA).
Reciprocity — where is my New Mexico permit honored? →
State-by-state map of which states honor a New Mexico concealed-carry permit.

Other New Mexico laws

Firearms in nearby states

Browse all state laws →

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