imported post
Within the law, under most circumstances, yes. However, be mindful there are restrictions where alcohol is sold in any form and private party signs DO apply to unloaded firearms. For example, you may see a sign on the door of a restaurant that says "no firearms". Those signs DO apply to loaded or unloaded arms.
Otherwise - unloaded [that means no ammo in gun - period] semi-auto under shirt, loaded magazine in a pocket is legal in NM.
If you don't have a concealed carry license and want to carry an unloaded firearm however you choose to carry it - you're legal here. There's a lot of rhetoric regarding the value of carrying this way. My opinion is any firearm you have with you can save your life. The one you have locked in your safe can't.
Practice your carry method regularly. Learn what it takes to draw an unloaded firearm from under that shirt, fetch the loaded magazine, get it in thefirearm, load the firearm and get that first round on target.
PERFECT practice makes PERFECT! Practice, practice, practice.
Personally, I prefer a loaded firearm in a holster carried openly to an unloaded firearm concealed. There is no legal consequence to open carry in NM and the time needed to fully load a firearm from concealment is more time consuming than I feel comfortable with.
Hope this answers your question.
Steve Aikens
