a buddy is going to travel to Colorado from Tejas by vehicle through New Mexico before arriving in Colorado.

is there a link to provide gun laws for those states...

or is he ok as a traveler?

He will be hunting so there will be long guns in the vehicle and he wants to take a handgun for protection from bad people as well as bears, should he encounter any on his hunt.

thanks in advance

Google Colorado bureau of Investigations and you can look up the applicable firearms laws

http://www.handgunlaw.us/

There you go!

Don't have ammo chambered in the rifle.

If he has a CCW, he can use it in both states. Any other firearms should be unloaded and in a locked case or in a trunk with ammo not accessible. Open carry in NM, but I don't know about CO.

Carry of hanguns(loaded or unloaded) is allowed in your vehicle in New Mexico as it is considered an extention of your home. Open carry is permitted but not into a premises licensed to sell alcohol. Keep long guns unloaded. Good luck on your hunt.

PS. One other oddity - If you are carrying concealed with a permit, you may only conceal one handgun at a time. I have no idea why but it was one of those "back room deals".

Also tell your buddy this. It is only legal to shoot from your automobile if you are a gangbanger.

I was in NM a week ago and visited a small gunsmith shop in Capitan where I bought an Alaskan Guide .45/70. I was surprised to learn from the gunsmith that my Texas CCL was sufficient on the paperwork to keep him from having to phone the BATF. However, if I had been licensed in NM, he said that he would have had to make the phone call. Apparently, there is some problem with the BATF recognition of the NM CCL.

He also commented that it wasn't uncommon for ranchers in the area to come into his shop wearing their sidearms openly.

Bob