Shooting Threats Bill Passes House Consumer & Public Affairs Committee

New Mexico House Bill 31 (HB31) would amend Section 30-20-16 NMSA 1978 to increase the penalty for making a shooting threat from a misdemeanor to a fourth degree felony, consistent with the current penalty of making a bomb scare.

The House Bill 31 (H.B. 31) on a vote of 3 to 1 was then forwarded out of the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee on but not with a recommendation that it be passed in its current form due to some technical language issues that will be reviewed in the next committee.

Reports and analysis with recommendations can be found at https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Agency_Analysis?chamber=H&legType=B&legNo=31&year=2

The legislation would elevate the crime of making a shooting threat from a misdemeanor, which carries a basic sentence of between six months and one year in prison and a possible $1,000 fine, or both, to a fourth degree felony, which carries a prison term of up to 18 months and a $5,000 fine.The New Mexico.

Attorney, General Raul  Torres, has endorsed this legislation and issued the following statement...

“I am encouraged by today’s vote to advance our legislation increasing criminal penalties associated with making a school threat and other types of mass violence,” said Attorney General Raúl Torrez. “Students and parents have suffered for too long with these terrifying acts and its impact on teachers and police officers is not only impacting education but undermining public safety. We still have a long way to go but I’m proud of the progress we made today on this important issue.”

Opponents of the change voiced concerns that the proposed bill is too broad and could lead to over-penalizing certain conduct.

The legislation now goes to the House Judiciary Committee for review. 

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