Testing New Mexico gun laws

Though I looked up the state gun laws before coming in, testing them against a law enforcement officer is still not the most comfortable thing. Much like your airbags in a collision; you know they are on your side and will likely save you, but it may hurt real bad even with their assistance. The same applies in open-carry situations; while perfectly legal, it only requires the officer to be having a bad day to at least have an extended stay discussing the matter with him  at the station before being released.

This morning, as I was using the restroom at a rest stop, a local Sheriff came in and used the urinal to my right. I did not notice he was an officer until I was finished and washing up. He turned to me, after finishing himself (whew!), and asked, “So, what are you carrying?”. It was at this time that I remembered I was open-carrying. After my answer, we carried on a short conversation regarding likes and dislikes before going on our separate ways.

While nice to be confirmed in my view of the state laws, it can still be a tick nerve wracking. Still, I firmly believe the occasional discomfort is better than the inability to protect myself and my family in that time of dire need. I will continue to carry my ‘backup’ on my belt just as we all carry that spare tire for our car; we hope to never have to use it, but if we need it, it is there.