Here is the text of the letter I sent to Governor Martinez and new DPS Cabinet Secretary Gorden Eden:
January 27, 2011
Governor Susana Martinez
Office of the Governor
490 Old Santa Fe Trail Rm 400
Santa Fe, NM 87501
Cabinet Secretary Gorden Eden (gorden.eden@state.nm.us)
Department of Public Safety
PO Box 1628
Santa Fe NM 87504-1628
Subject: 2011 Legislative Session- Request DPS to Modify Position on Fingerprints for CCW Renewal
Governor Martinez and Secretary Eden,
I am writing to ask the two of you to have the staff of DPS modify their position on the Fiscal Impact Report for Senate Bill 29. In the previous administration DPS did everything they could to make legal gun owners spend as much time and money to obtain a concealed carry license despite the intent of the legislation that created the act. It appears that this practice is continuing without your knowledge.
Currently New Mexico gun owners are required to obtain a new set of fingerprints at considerable cost and time every four years despite the fact that DPS has all the fingerprints on file from the original applications. Here is the excerpt from the Fiscal Impact Report dated 1-21-11:
“DPS advises that it is not feasible to access or pull an original set of prints, but DPS needs a new set of fingerprint cards in order to continue conducting a national background check upon renewal of a license. Under the proposed changes, DPS would be able to run only a very limited background check that will not include national fingerprint-verified arrest information. Additionally, DPS reports the two- year refresher course ensures the maintenance of at least some level of proficiency during the four- year license term.”
This is ridiculous. Why is it not feasible? Are they just lazy? These CCW files are important and they should be easily accessed. If Senate Bill 29 is approved, their workload should theoretically decrease by 50% since applications would come through every four (4) years instead of two (2) years. In addition, common sense tells you that processing a brand new set of redundant fingerprints should take just as much work as pulling a file and sending in a set of prints they already have.
Here is the Synopsis of Bill 29:
“Senate Bill 29 proposes to amend the Concealed Handgun Carry Act to: 1) eliminate the fingerprint requirement when a concealed handgun license is being renewed; 2) eliminate the two-hour refresher firearms training course requirement that existing law requires be completed two years into the four year license term; 3) allow a licensee to apply to renew a license up to 90 days prior to expiration; and 4) expand the grace period for renewals from 60 to 90 days after expiration.”
I am asking that the red tape stop here. Please ask the staff at DPS to modify their Fiscal Impact Report comments on SB29 and assist the law abiding gun owners in making this a less costly and time consuming process. It goes without saying that New Mexico is one of a very few states with this requirement. DPS is plain wrong on this and it is a continuation of the previous administrations plan to make it more difficult for the gun owner.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this.
