A New Kind of FFL for New Mexico: Left Arms LLC Opens for Business

One of the first questions new or prospective members of our chapter often ask is some variation on “is there a gun store around here that doesn’t suck?”

This is, of course, a common problem across the country: your local gun store is either an overpriced corporate chain like Cabela’s or a strip mall storefront bedecked floor-to-ceiling in conservative dog whistles. Given the fact that according to a Pew survey from 2017 the average American gun owner is white, male, and rural, it becomes clear that the lack of diversity on both sides of most firearm transactions is self-reinforcing. Breaking that cycle is, we believe, one of the vital roles that the Socialist Rifle Association serves.

But that doesn’t answer the question lots of people have right now: “Where can I buy a gun without feeling judged or even threatened?”

For those of us who aren’t necessarily “patriot-passing,” as one of our members so eloquently puts it—meaning white, masc-presenting, and hetero-coded—this is a serious consideration. Even gun stores branding themselves as “apolitical” aren’t exactly safe spaces. That’s why we were so excited when Left Arms opened for business in Los Lunas, NM. David and his LLC are, as far as we know, the only leftist FFL outfit in the state.

In David’s own words:

Left Arms is dedicated to providing a welcoming, comfortable, and inclusive firearm purchasing experience, with a particular focus on new shooters. We believe that safety, education, and self-defense should never be limited by ideology or gatekeeping.

Here’s his website: https://leftarmsllc.com/

If you’re in the greater Albuquerque area and need some guidance on a firearm purchase, we highly recommend getting in touch with David. We hope his example will inspire others to recognize and meet similar needs in their own communities.

We keep us safe!