Federal law requires background checks for sales by licensed dealers but it doesn't currently mandate that private sales need to run checks, too and a Democratic Albuquerque congressman is looking to change that law in New Mexico in a proposed bill to be discussed during the upcoming legislative session.

"Our no questions asked days are over," D-Albuquerque Miguel Garcia said. "Our legislation to require background checks for the mentally and criminally adjudicated at Gun Shows in New Mexico, and the same checks for a private individual purchase, will help curb the flow of readily available guns and assault weapons to individuals most capable of inflicting needless injury..."

"To do a background check, I don't care," Las Crucen Mike Hudson said. "Go ahead, you know, I've got nothing to hide."

Hudson told KFOX14 he owns six firearms, including shotguns and a handgun. He said he has no opposition to those background checks.

The problem Hudson said, is in his experience, the department of public safety didn't respond to the seller in the allotted time required by law.

"The government never contacted him back," Hudson said. "Never said, 'Yes sell it or no don't sell it.'"

Garcia said eight states have laws requiring background checks for those making purchases at gun shows and four states require the checks on private sales of guns.

"I think everyone should have a background check," Las Cruces handgun owner Robert Ramirez said.

But Ramirez said he also worries about the precedent a new bill on gun control could set.

Talks about gun laws have been especially widespread in the last month, following the massacre at a Newtown Connecticut elementary school that left 27 people dead including 20 children.

"It's the person that kills the people, you know, the gun doesn't pull the trigger on its own," Ramirez said.

Garcia said he doesn't yet know what the cost of the screening would be to taxpayers.