LAS CRUCES - When the Doña Ana County Commission considers a resolution Tuesday to support New Mexico's red-flag gun bill, they could expect to see a legion of armed gun control opponents in the county chambers.

A red-flag bill is making its way through the State Senate with the support of Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

The bill would allow law enforcement to temporarily remove guns from owners deemed by a judge to be a threat to themselves or others in an attempt to reduce gun suicides and other gun deaths. Family, close friends or police could initiate the request.

If the bill passes, New Mexico would join 17 states and Washington, D.C., which already have similar “red-flag” laws. New Mexico is among 13 states considering bills.

Lujan Grisham unveiled the bill in Las Cruces earlier this month. The New Mexico Sheriff's Association opposes the proposed law. At least two sheriffs have said they wouldn't enforce the new law in their counties.

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Proponents of the law argue responsible gun owners' rights wouldn't be violated under the bill.

And, a 2018 study found that temporary gun seizure laws were associated with a 13.7% reduction in firearm suicides in Connecticut and a 7.5% reduction in firearm suicides in Indiana. Both of those laws only allow police to initiate a request.

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Most firearm deaths in New Mexico were suicides from 2013-2017, according to the New Mexico Department of Health, and the state has one of the highest rates of gun deaths in the country, according to Centers for Disease Control statistics.

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Some gun owners in the county still plan on opposing the resolution, saying the bill violates gun rights.

On Facebook, Custom Cartridge Co. — a gun store in Las Cruces — posted a photo of a notice that called county residents to show up to the meeting and oppose the resolution.

"The Doña Ana County Commission will be a considering a resolution supporting New Mexico's proposed GUN CONFISCATION 'Extreme Risk Protection Order' aka RED-FLAG law," the notice reads.

Custom Cartridge owner Rey Gonzales said the store received the notice from Dan Parrott, a gun rights organizer, and decided to let the community know about the meeting.

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'Our rights are being violated'

"Please attend and let the Commission know we won't stand for this un-Constitutional garbage in OUR County!!!" the notice continues. It's garnered hundreds of shares and reshares on Facebook.

Parrott is a recruiter and a Frontlines Activist Leader for the National Rifle Association. Ahead of Tuesday's meeting, Parrott has been putting up the notices all over town, at gun shops, ranges and in restaurants.

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"I believe that our rights are being violated with this unconstitutional legislation that they're putting forth," Parrott said. "We just got to stand up and take a position and not let the politicians get by with it."

Parrott said he thinks current laws are sufficient to get mentally ill people the help they need in places they can't hurt themselves.

“We’re not opposed to getting people help,” Parrott said.

Parrott and two other gun owners and enthusiasts, Dave Gallus and Emerson Gates, said with the proposed bill, they're afraid of false accusations leading to people losing their gun rights.

While red-flag laws vary by state, in New Mexico, family, friends or police could petition a court to have guns temporarily removed from a person that poses a threat to themselves or others.

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The temporary order would remove guns for up to 15 days pending a court decision to issue a yearlong removal.

Petitioners would have to sign a sworn statement and provide “detailed allegations based on personal knowledge,” under penalty of perjury, that the owner is a danger to themselves or others by being in possession of a gun.

If the court issues an order, police could remove guns from someone for up to a year, but it could be extended on a yearly basis with the court’s approval.

'A bandage solution'

The bill says when deciding whether to issue an order, the court should consider things like someone’s criminal record, present or past orders of protection, misuse of drugs or alcohol or an act or threat of violence.

Gates, a gunsmith, said he thinks taking guns from a truly dangerous person is a bandage solution.

“If this person is so dangerous that they need to seize their firearms, why are they leaving him at large?” Gates said.

The three said they expect to see a "show of unity" among gun owners at the county commission meeting Tuesday that may even feature an open carry of firearms.

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An open carry show of opposition has happened before in Las Cruces and New Mexico state law doesn't prohibit open carry in the Doña Ana County Government Building.

When the Las Cruces City Council held a vote in 2018 on a resolution to request the state legislature restrict sales and possession of semi-automatic guns, dozens of opponents protested inside and outside the city council chambers and open-carried AR-15s and other weapons.

After hours of debate, the council voted 6-1 to postpone the vote and further discuss the matter at a work session.

The city council, at a later meeting, did pass that resolution.

Gates said it's possible that scenario will repeat itself Tuesday. He said the county could postpone the resolution, saying they'll listen to public feedback while passing it at a later date.

"I personally think this is going to be an exercise in futility," Gates said.

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The county commission will meet at 9 a.m. Jan. 28 at the county building, 845 N. Motel Blvd.

Michael McDevitt can be reached at 575-202-3205, mmcdevitt@lcsun-news.com or @MikeMcDTweets on Twitter.