While standing at my table at the gunshow a few weekends ago, I had a guy approach me to resolve an argument between him and a friend.

His argument was: "If you need to qualify minimum with a .32 you can't carry anything below that."

This is the first time I've heard anything like that, and in fact I know more than a few people that CCW a .25.  

The only info I could find applying to caliber was the following:



Anyone hear anything like this before? I'm thinking his argument is BS.

You can only carry calibers smaller than what you qualify with. I guess they just don't want people qualifying with a .22 since that would be the only thing they could carry.

Once again glad I have an AZ permit ....

Looking into getting an AZ permit myself.  Heard that NM is going to disallow residents from carrying with a non-resident license.  DPS will not answer my emails about this, though.

They've had it on their website since 2008 that they might consider that in the future. So far 7 years and no changes though.

A lot of the NM instructors are upset they are losing business to people getting the AZ permit instead. If anyone is going to cause NM to change it is going to be because of the instructors whining.

Yes you can carry any caliber "up to and including" what you qualified with.  So per the definition of caliber, 9mm = 380 ACP (both 0.355" "caliber"), 38 Special = .357 Magnum (both .357" "caliber"), 32 ACP listed as minimum for qual but is technically .3125" caliber.  This particularly ignorant part of the exceptionally poorly written NM CCW law is a great example of my I'm glad our state legislative session is very short and not much is accomplished.

I think its fun to qualify with calibers that result in awkward licensing, such as a S&W Model 52 semi auto in .38 Special for my "semi-auto" qual and the Taurus .380 ACP revolver for my revolver qual

Florida also has a nice non resident permit and they allow classes from other states.

NM instructors have been known in my area to price gouge. Especially since there is only 1 place able to hold classes.

However NM has a loophole to carry concealed without a permit. So I'll keep my 180 dollars for a class for now.