#gunshop

I haven’t been very active lately and to be honest it’s because I’m fatigued and gun posting just reminds me of work now, but this year has been unlike any other so I felt I needed to share what it’s been like being a gun salesman in 2020 - between COVID-19, riots, protests, and the upcoming election, it’s been pure insanity.

The year started off to a decent start sales-wise, we had the usual post-holiday I-got-christmas-money spending, followed by the traditional post-tax-return impulse buying. I knew with the election coming up towards the end of the year we’d see a pretty large increase in sales around then, but hadn’t expected 2020 to be anything too crazy for the firearms industry. 

Then COVID-19 became a global event.

I’ll never forget the first insane day of sales we had because it fell on Friday the 13th back in March, right around the same time businesses began having to close and people started having to go on unemployment, and unfortunately, on the day Breonna Taylor was murdered. We had a never ending stream of new customers walking in wanting to buy something for home defense, along with our regulars who were just trying to check items off their wishlist before inventory was gone. To say we had to put little effort into making sales is an understatement - everyone thought as people went on unemployment and business shuttered that immediately they would turn to theft and violence, and whatever they could use to defend themselves they wanted it and all the ammo to go with it immediately.

Depending on how many used/estate/trade-in firearms we have we would usually have around 100-130 handguns in stock, and around 80 long guns, along with a decent selection of ammunition. At one point in March we had 5 handguns left on the shelf and about 25 long guns left, all of which were only there because they were either collectible in nature or a dedicated hunting/sporting firearm. Any modern defensive firearm was gone, and all common ammunition calibers were out of stock as well. Even things like magazines, holsters, cleaning kits, safety gear, parts, etc. were getting bought up.

The good news at least was at this point we could still restock inventory. Shipping times were taking much longer than usual since every shop in the nation was hammering distributors with orders, but we were still able to order in product and re-fill the shelves in a reasonable timeframe. By about mid-May sales had slowed back down to around near-normal as we ran out of stuff to sell and everyone began to adjust to living in COVID-19 America. After our first dead week of sales in awhile I thought we were through the worst of it and things would return to normal.

Then George Floyd was murdered. 

Being located within a reasonable distance of downtown Portland put us right near the heart of protests and riots that would eventually draw global attention, and along with it came the panic buying. Business owners, residents concerned about their safety, people arming themself for what they believed was the start of a conflict - they all came in droves. What little inventory we were getting in was leaving near immediately, and with the entire nation seeing similar events happening in major cities the supply chain was gutted quickly.

It’s mid-September now and while we still see the high demand for firearms, the reality is we’re running out of things to sell and unable to restock easily. We used to be able to reserve small stashes of 9mm/5.56 in the back for customers to pick up with firearms, but that’s all long gone now with no ETA on when we’ll get more. Companies we’ve reached out to about becoming new dealers with or backordering some calibers have quoted us Q2 of 2021 on new orders. The few new defensive firearms we do restock sell within a day or two of being put on the shelf, and we’re definitely selling more than we are restocking.

COVID-19 has limited the importation and production of firearms/ammunition so badly that some many I had backordered back in April have still not been filled, and although I check daily on the multiple distributors we use they are getting such limited inventory that everything is being allocated out and not even put on their websites. I just have to hope there is anything good on an allocation email and that I reply quickly enough to get it, or that I’ll get a shipping notice from one of the many backorders we have pending.

The bigger concern for me now has become the general unpleasantness that has spread to nearly everyone. Customers don’t understand why we’re out of all the calibers or firearms they’re looking for and get angry when we can’t just order more for them. First time buyers get frustrated when their driver’s license is expired, or has an old out of state address, and they need something else for us to use to submit their background check. Background check queues that used to take minutes or hours on a busy day to clear now take weeks since over 5,000 people are in line and even though we communicate that, people still impatiently call us every few days to check where they are in line. The first time buyer who didn’t give a damn about the Second Amendment until now is suddenly an expert on their rights and is furious at us because the State Police put a Delay or Denial on their background check.

Don’t even get me started on the masks.

We’ve had more crazies coming out of the woodworks in the last 6 months than the entire 8 years I’ve been in this industry. Between multiple Delays and Denials on a weekly basis, combined with having had to ask a few customers to leave because we didn’t feel confident selling them a firearm or they were rude to our staff, it’s been stressful for the entire crew. One of our regulars who works nights and commutes right by the shop informed us he’d seen two cars parked outside the shop around 3am one morning, and after reviewing the security camera footage, we were definitely being cased. Thankfully all of our firearms are locked up in safes at night, so it’s clear to anyone looking in the windows that there’s nothing they can easily steal if they do get in, but it’s still concerning that someone might try anyway.

As far as New Mexico Gun Laws are concerned, the state has some of the most interesting gun laws you will come across. As it is a shall-issue state, only residents have the permission to carry a concealed gun but you will have to get a license first.

Other than that, if one were to compare New Mexico to other states, the gun laws in New Mexico are quite liberal. You can even legally and openly carry a gun without having a carry license for it.

In fact, if a person is from another state and has a handgun license there, they should be able to get a license in New Mexico as long as the concealed carry law matches New Mexico’s.

The gun laws are so different in New Mexico that it can be confusing, so it’s natural to be curious about certain things. Let’s take a look at some of the most common questions regarding New Mexico Gun laws.

Are Guns Allowed in Schools and Universities?

In general, the law doesn’t encourage carrying any kind of life taking weapon on grounds of an educational institution or anywhere activities sponsored by schools are taking place- for example, a soccer playground where children are competing. It doesn’t matter whether you have a concealed carry license in this case.

However, if you are on school grounds but have the gun inside your vehicle for protection purposes and are above 19 years of age, it’s allowed. You can also carry a gun when you are actually participating in a school program that involves explaining firearms- something that has to be approved by the school.

The penalty also changes depending on whether you carried the weapon illegally at a K-12 school, in which case it would be a fourth-degree felony, while in a university, it is written off as misdemeanor.

Can You Carry a Newly Purchased Gun in a Cab?

If you already have a concealed carry license, of course, you can carry the weapon without having it in plain view.

However, if you just brought the weapon from a gun shop in New Mexico, and are about to get into a cab, you can carry it inside the cab as long as the cab doesn’t have a sign that says guns are not allowed and the cab driver has not explicitly asked you not to.

The gun would also have to be not loaded and without any ammunition. If these rules are followed, you can keep it in a backpack inside the cab.

What About Buses?

You absolutely cannot carry handguns on a bus. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a school bus, one for public transit, or a bus that’s been hired for personal use, guns aren’t allowed. Your concealed carry license holds no weight in this case.

What Qualifies You for a Concealed Handgun License?

For one, you have to first be a U.S. citizen along with having your residency in New Mexico, though exceptions are made if that’s where you’re stationed due to the military. You will also have to be 21 years of age and first, go through a training course on firearms.

Even if you meet all these requirements though, denial is likely to be issued if you already have a convicted felony mark on your file or have a history of violence. You would also be denied a license if you had a DUI incident recently, drug and alcohol charges, a domestic violence case or have been prohibited from gun possession due to federal or state law.

What Kind of Gun Use is Considered Illegal According to New Mexico Laws?

Just because New Mexico allows you to openly carry guns without a license or conceal carry if you hold a license, it doesn’t mean you can use the gun as you wish.

For one, guns can’t be fired at a residence or a building that’s occupied. Nor are you allowed to shoot from a vehicle or at a vehicle. The penalties for these incidents differ in degree, depending on whether your action actually seriously injured someone.

You are also likely to face misdemeanor charges for petty crimes if you fire a gun purposefully to threaten someone’s life or cause damage to their property. You are also not allowed to fire a gun within 150 yards of a residence unless the owner has given you permission to do so.

What Happens When You Carry a Gun to a Liquor Store?

You are quietly likely to receive a fourth-degree felony charge if you take a gun to a place that has a license for selling liquor. As such, whether it’s a liquor store, a bar, or a restaurant, you can face charges as long as the place has a liquor license.

If you possess a concealed handgun license, you do get a pass, that is, if the place has more sales depending on food rather than liquor. Unless, of course, the business has stated it won’t allow guns.

Can You Carry a Gun if You’re Under Influence?

No, if you are carrying a gun while you are intoxicated or on drugs, it will be written as petty misdemeanor.

Final Thoughts

Well, if you are carrying a gun around in New Mexico, we would suggest taking your time to learn how to use the gun correctly before you do, regardless of whether you are aiming for a concealed license or planning to open carry the gun.

It’s best that you take classes and understand what guns are actually for and what’s considered legal or illegal with regards to them. Consult with an experienced team that will help you choose the right firearm for you.

New Mexico Gun Laws can also change so you should keep a track of the latest news regarding this.

About Miller Guns and Ammo