Bennie Hargrove Gun Safety Act Passes House

Safe storage bill to prevent senseless tragedies will now move to Senate

Santa Fe, NM - House Bill 9, also known as “Bennie’s Bill,” passed the House of Representatives today by vote of 37-32. This commonsense safe storage bill will help protect New Mexico’s children from gun violence and tragic accidents by making sure adults store their firearms safely and responsibly. 

The bill is named in honor of Bennie Hargrove, the Albuquerque middle school student fatally shot in 2021 by a classmate who used his father’s improperly stored gun.

At the Capitol today in support of House Bill 9 were Hargrove’s grandmother Vanessa Sawyer, Albuquerque students with Students Demand Action, and Kristen & Michael Song, parents of the late Ethan Song and advocates for similar legislation in Connecticut. 

The offices of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, Mayor Tim Keller, and the Albuquerque Police Department have also announced their strong support for this legislation. 

“This bill is about saving lives and protecting our children. If the gun used to take Bennie Hargrove’s life was properly secured, he would still be with us today,” said Representative Pamelya Herndon (D-Albuquerque). “We can prevent school shootings and other senseless tragedies by holding adults accountable for negligently storing their guns.” 

House Bill 9 holds adults accountable for making a firearm accessible to a minor if the minor brandishes the weapon (a misdemeanor), and for negligently making a firearm accessible to a minor if the minor uses the weapon and it results in great bodily harm or death (a fourth-degree felony).

The bill will now move to the Senate. 

The Roundhouse is open to the public for the 2023 session. Members of the public can also view floor sessions and committee meetings on the New Mexico Legislature’s Webcasts tab, and provide comment via phone or Zoom as directed on the daily schedule.   

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