N.M. Stat. § 29-19-7 (2026)

requirement; proprietary interest; exemptions.
     A. The department shall prepare and publish minimum standards for approved
firearms training courses that teach competency with handguns. A firearms training
course shall include classroom instruction and range instruction and an actual
demonstration by the applicant of his ability to safely use a handgun. An applicant shall
not be licensed unless he demonstrates, at a minimum, his ability to use a handgun of
.32 caliber. An approved firearms training course shall be a course that is certified or
sponsored by a federal or state law enforcement agency, a college, a firearms training
school or a nationally recognized organization, approved by the department, that
customarily offers firearms training. The firearms training course shall be not less than
fifteen hours in length and shall provide instruction regarding:

      (1)   knowledge of and safe handling of single- and double-action revolvers and
semiautomatic handguns;

       (2)    safe storage of handguns and child safety;

       (3)    safe handgun shooting fundamentals;

       (4)    live shooting of a handgun on a firing range;

       (5)    identification of ways to develop and maintain handgun shooting skills;

      (6)    federal, state and local criminal and civil laws pertaining to the purchase,
ownership, transportation, use and possession of handguns;

      (7)     techniques for avoiding a criminal attack and how to control a violent
confrontation; and

       (8)    techniques for nonviolent dispute resolution.

    B. Every instructor of an approved firearms training course shall annually file a copy
of the course description and proof of certification with the department.
History: Laws 2003, ch. 255, § 7.

                                     ANNOTATIONS

Effective dates. — Laws 2003, ch. 255, § 16 made Laws 2003, ch. 255, § 7 effective
July 1, 2003.