Students Demand Action Volunteers Rally in Santa Fe During Annual Advocacy Day to Call for a Ban on Assault Weapons 

SANTA FE, N.M. – The New Mexico chapters of Students Demand Action and Moms Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots network, issued the following statements after rallying at the Roundhouse during their 2025 Advocacy Day where they called on lawmakers to pass a ban on assault weapons. SB 279, is an innovative piece of legislation that prohibits the manufacture and sale of military-style firearms and high-capacity magazines. SB 279 would also give New Mexico its first state regulations on machine guns and machine gun conversion devices, like Glock switches. 

“Students like me have rallied for years to advance gun safety and save lives in New Mexico,’ said Eli Crowley, a volunteer leader with the Sandia High School chapter of Students Demand Action. “We want to make sure our generation is the last generation that ever has to experience a crisis like this. That’s why we’re calling on lawmakers to pass a ban on assault weapons.  

There’s no reason for the gun industry to continue profiting from these deadly weapons that cause mass harm. Prohibiting civilians from accessing these guns is just common sense.” 

A recent poll by Everytown found that:

• 81% of respondents reported that gun violence prevention should be a priority for lawmakers this legislative session; 
• 72% of respondents said that the New Mexico Legislature has more work to do to address the issues of gun safety and gun crime; 
• 68% of respondents supported banning assault weapons to prevent mass shootings.

Last session, New Mexico became the first state in the nation to advance this novel legislation,  modeled after Senator Heinrich’s federal bill, which prohibits the sale, transfer, and receipt of gas-operated semi automatic firearms and large-capacity magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition. This includes weapons commonly used in mass tragedies, and military-style rifles that, especially when paired with large-capacity magazines, allow mass shooters to unleash destructive, rapid-fire barrages on unsuspecting victims in seconds. This session, lawmakers have a new opportunity to save lives.  

The rate of gun deaths has increased 59% from 2014 to 2023 in New Mexico, compared to a 34% increase nationwide. In an average year, 526 people die by guns. With a rate of 25.2 deaths per 100,000 people, New Mexico has the 3rd-highest rate of gun deaths in the US. More information about gun violence in New Mexico is available here.