Legal challenges target gun purchase waiting periods in New Mexico and Maine

Legal challenges regarding firearm purchase waiting periods are progressing in both New Mexico and Maine.

In New Mexico, a U.S. District Court judge ruled against the state’s seven-day waiting period for gun purchases in the case of Ortega v. Grisham. The ruling, which follows a lawsuit backed by the National Rifle Association (NRA), allows residents to acquire firearms immediately after passing background checks. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham is expected to appeal the decision.

In Maine, plaintiffs have petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to review a 72-hour waiting period on gun purchases. Supporters of the law, including the Maine Gun Safety Coalition, argue the period serves as a ‘cooling off’ measure that prevents impulsive purchases and has helped prevent suicides. Opponents, such as the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine, contend that the delay unconstitutionally restricts the exercise of Second Amendment rights.