State Representative Rebecca Dow addressed lawsuits targeting gun stores, asserting that despite pledges "to protect and promote the U.S. and New Mexico constitutions," progressives are focused on restricting the rights of law-abiding citizens. She made this statement in a post on X on February 9.

"We start the session pledging to protect and promote the US and NM constitutions," said Dow. "Too many progressives (the party of power) are constantly looking for ways to restrict the 2nd amendment rights of law abiding citizens."

According to Dow, she shared a February 8 post from the New Mexico Shooting Association highlighting a new attempt to "sue gun stores in New Mexico out of existence." This lawsuit was filed earlier this year, adding to a semiautomatic rifle and magazine ban introduced earlier in the week.

Screenshot of State Representative Rebecca Dow's Feb. Post on X | X

The ban on semi-automatic rifles, magazines, and other semiautomatic firearms is outlined in Senate Bill 279. Sponsored by Senators Heather Berghmans and Micaelita Debbie O'Malley, along with Representatives Charlotte Little, Andrea Romero, and Patricia Roybal Caballero, the bill seeks to prohibit the importation, sale, manufacture, transfer, receipt, or possession of gas-operated semiautomatic firearms, large capacity ammunition feeding devices, and devices that increase the rate of fire of a firearm. Additionally, it would ban machine guns. The legislation also includes the Gas-Operated Semiautomatic Firearms Exclusion Act, which requires certification of semiautomatic firearms. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Senate Bill 318, also known as the Firearms in Unfair Practices Act and filed by Senator Joseph Cervantes, has been referred to the Senate Tax, Business, and Transportation Committee. The bill aims to make it easier for gun stores to be sued under the Unfair Practices Act by the state attorney general. It defines a firearm as "any handgun, rifle or shotgun," excluding antique firearms or powder-actuated tools or firearms that are permanently inoperable. Additionally, it states that parties involved in manufacturing, advertising or distributing firearms or firearm parts or accessories for sale "shall be jointly and severally liable for any violations of the Unfair Practices Act." Statutory damages would include $250,000 plus attorney fees.

Rebecca Dow represents New Mexico House District 38. Elected in November 2024, her term will end on December 31, 2026. According to her Ballotpedia biography, Dow holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Oral Roberts University and an associate degree in early childhood education from Tulsa Community College.