Enabling Legislation, Compendium, and other Policies

Here are the instruments that created the park, along with other pertinent laws and policies.

Public Law 100-225  (40 Kb pdf)

This law was signed by President Ronald Reagan and established El Malpais National Monument in 1987.

El Malpais Compendium (287 Kb pdf)

This document summarizes the existing regulatory provisions governing El Malpais National Monument.

Firearms Regulations

Beginning February 22, 2010, a new federal law allows people who can legally possess firearms under applicable federal, state, and local laws, to legally possess firearms in this monument. The Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009, was enacted May 22, 2009 and will become effective February 22, 2010. Section 512 of this law; Protecting Americans from Violent Crimes, supersedes the uniform treatment of firearm possession in the National Park System outside Alaska under the regulations found at 36 C.F.R. 2.4.

It is the responsibility of visitors to understand and comply with all applicable state, local, and federal firearms laws before entering this monument. Firearms may not be discharged in this national monument and hunting is prohibited at all times.

Federal law also prohibits firearms in certain facilities in this park (such as visitor centers, government offices, etc.) These places are marked with signs at all public entrances.

For more information about New Mexico gun laws, please visit our state's website:

State Home Page

State Statutes

Concealed Weapons Information

State Reciprocity

Attorney General

(505) 827-6000

P.O. Drawer 1508, Santa Fe, NM 87504-1508

Relevant Statutes: (not inclusive)

New Mexico Statutes Annotated §§ 17-2-12; 17-2-33 through 35; 29-19-1 through 12; 30-3-8; 30-7-1 through 16; 32A-2-33.