Gun safety advocates pump money into New Mexico

Fall legislative elections are thrusting New Mexico into the national political tussle over access to firearms and whether current restrictions and background checks are sufficient to stem violence. New campaign finance disclosures with state regulators show the group Everytown for Gun Safety made a $100,000 contribution to the Patriot Majority New Mexico political committee that is affiliated with Democratic causes. Smaller donations have been made to several other Democrat-aligned political committees, and both the Democratic Senate and Republican House majority leaders. National and local advocates for limited new firearms restrictions regard New Mexico as fertile ground for bipartisan reforms and want to see a loophole closed on background checks for firearms transactions at gun shows and online. The National Rifle Association has contributions to a long list of Republican lawmakers. AP