Is firearms legal in New Mexico?

Q: Is firearms legal in New Mexico?

Firearms in New Mexico is legal only under specific conditions. New Mexico requires a permit to carry concealed, and it is shall-issue through the Department of Public Safety. The minimum age is 21, and open carry needs no license. New Mexico is not permitless for concealed carry.

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NEW MEXICO · FIREARMS

Firearms

Conditional: New Mexico requires a permit to carry concealed, and it is shall-issue through the Department of Public Safety.

Conditional

Summary

New Mexico requires a permit to carry concealed, and it is shall-issue through the Department of Public Safety. The minimum age is 21, and open carry needs no license. New Mexico is not permitless for concealed carry.

Source: https://www.dps.nm.gov/law-enforcement-records-bureau/concealed-carry-licenses/ · Updated July 6, 2026

New Mexico Firearms topics

Concealed Carry in New Mexico →Conditional
New Mexico requires a permit to carry concealed, and it is shall-issue through the Department of Public Safety.
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
No permit is needed to transport a handgun in New Mexico, which treats a vehicle as an extension of the home, so anyone who is not a prohibited person may have a loaded handgun in the vehicle.
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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