By Barry Massey The Associated Press; Posted: 02/11/2011 12:36:59 AM MST

SANTA FE — Guns have long been taboo in schools, but a state legislator wants to change that in New Mexico.  A proposal by Rep. Zach Cook, a Ruidoso Republican, would allow people licensed to have a concealed handgun to take their weapons into schools and preschools, on college campuses, bars, state parks and buses. 

Cook said he offered the measure to address complaints from his southern New Mexico constituents.

“There are a lot of people who have concealed carry permits that have to leave their gun in their cars to take their kids to school, which creates a burden on them,” Cook said in a recent interview. “I would rather that gun be on the body of the responsible person who has met all the requirements for having a concealed carry permit than sitting in a car unattended.”

But the measure faces plenty of opposition.

“Just the idea of having unlimited access to weapons on a school campus is alarming,” said Tom Sullivan of the New Mexico Coalition of School Administrators.

Republican Gov. Susana Martinez, who has a concealed handgun permit, opposes people carrying concealed weapons in schools and bars, according to Scott Darnell, a spokesman for the governor. Martinez “supports the expansion of concealed carry to places like state parks where people are hiking, camping and fishing,” he said.

Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia prohibit any person — student or adult — from carrying a firearm onto elementary or secondary school

property, according to the Legal Community Against Violence, a public interest law center in San Francisco that favors gun restrictions.However, many states have exceptions to their laws, such as allowing guns locked in vehicles on school property. A federal law also requires school districts receiving federal aid to adopt policies requiring at least a one-year expulsion for students who bring guns to schools.

In Nebraska this year, a legislator has proposed allowing school administrators, teachers and security personnel to carry concealed handguns in schools.

New Mexico has issued about more than 17,000 concealed handgun licenses since 2004, and it honors concealed handgun permits issued to nonresidents by most other states.

Cook’s bill also would allow permit holders to carry more than one concealed handgun at a time.

Last year, New Mexico changed its law to allow concealed handguns into some restaurants that serve beer and wine. Restaurant owners and managers can stop that with a sign.

Cook’s bill would permit concealed weapons in a bar or a restaurant with a full liquor license — places that serve whiskey and other liquor besides wine and beer.

Albuquerque bar owner Billy Baldwin is troubled by the proposed change in law.

“You’ve got alcohol and you’ve got guns. It’s not a good combination,” said Baldwin, president of the New Mexico Hospitality Retailers Association, a liquor trade association.

But Cook sees it differently.

“If you’re intoxicated with a gun that’s a violation of the law already. That’s negligent use of a firearm,” said Cook. “This is a bill to expand the rights of responsible law-abiding citizens which have a concealed carry permit.”