RELATING TO THE PUBLIC PEACE, HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE; CREATING A CRIMINAL OFFENSE THAT MAKES IT UNLAWFUL TO CARRY A FIREARM ON UNIVERSITY PREMISES; PROVIDING A PENALTY; ENACTING A NEW SECTION OF CHAPTER 30, ARTICLE 7 NMSA 1978.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO: Section 1. A new section of Chapter 30, Article 7 NMSA
1978 is enacted to read:
"UNLAWFUL CARRYING OF A FIREARM ON UNIVERSITY
PREMISES--NOTICE--PENALTY.--
A. Unlawful carrying of a firearm on university premises consists of carrying a firearm on university premises except by:
(1) a peace officer;
(2) university security personnel;
(3) a student, instructor or other university-authorized personnel who are engaged in army, navy, marine corps or air force reserve officer training corps programs or a state-authorized hunter safety training program; (4) a person conducting or participating in a university-approved program, class or other activity involving the carrying of a firearm; or
(5) a person older than nineteen years of age on university premises in a private automobile or other private means of conveyance, for lawful protection of the person's or another's person or property.
B. A university shall conspicuously post notices on university premises that state that it is unlawful to carry a firearm on university premises.
C. As used in this section:
(1) "university" means a baccalaureate degree-granting post-secondary educational institution, a community college, a branch community college,
a technical-vocational institute and an area vocational school; and
(2) "university premises" means:
(a) the buildings and grounds of a university, including playing fields and parking areas of a university, in or on which university or university-related activities are conducted; or
(b) any other public buildings or grounds, including playing fields and parking areas that are not university property, in or on which university-related and sanctioned activities are performed.
D. Whoever commits unlawful carrying of a firearm on university premises is guilty of a petty misdemeanor."
Section 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2003.