SANTA FE, N.M. – The focus on curbing violent crime in New Mexico took precedence on Saturday following a tragic incident where three individuals lost their lives and 15 others were wounded in a shooting at a public park in Las Cruces. This pressing issue emerged prominently as the annual legislative session drew to a close.
The events transformed an ordinarily celebratory day for legislators at the close of a 60-day session into a somber affair.
Democratic House Speaker Javier Martinez from Albuquerque emphasized the need for unity in addressing such senseless acts of violence in the wake of the recent tragedy. He highlighted the importance of collective efforts to combat the escalating crime rates.
On the other hand, Republican lawmakers, who are in the minority in the legislative assembly, voiced concern over the crisis the state is currently facing. They urged Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham to take decisive action by convening the legislators to devise solutions to tackle the surge in violent crime. Governor Lujan Grisham expressed contemplation over the matter amidst a backdrop of frustration and dismay.
“I cannot ignore that we failed to adequately address the public safety crisis in our state,” Lujan Grisham said in a statement.
At the same time, legislators have delivered an array of crime-related bills to the governor that aim to enhance criminal penalties, expand the state’s authority to prosecute organized crime and provide new precautions when criminal defendants are deemed mentally incompetent to stand trial.
A bill won legislative approval on a 38-0 Senate vote this week that would expand the state’s racketeering law to address activity ranging from human trafficking to smuggling contraband into prisons and cock fighting. Lujan Grisham said she lobbied legislators aggressively to deliver the bill.
A public safety law signed by the governor in February included enhanced penalties for mass-shooting threats, fentanyl trafficking and repeated vehicle thefts, while also banning devices — such as the Glock switch — that convert guns into automatic weapons.
Lawmakers overhauled the state’s red-flag gun law, under which firearms may be temporarily removed from people who may pose a danger. The update explicitly authorizes police officers to file petitions and removes a 48-hour waiting period for firearm relinquishment.
Legislators also sent the governor bills that establish a trust fund to underwrite an expansion of addiction and mental health services, while identifying gaps in the system. Legislators are grappling with public concern about not only crime but also the proliferation of homeless encampments in New Mexico.
Beyond New Mexico, a tough-on-crime approach is back in political favor, with Republicans and Democrats alike promoting new law enforcement initiatives in state capitols.
Nationwide, nearly 8 in 10 voters in the U.S. said they were “very” or “somewhat” concerned about crime in their own communities, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 120,000 voters conducted during the fall election. The percentage saying they were very concerned was higher than the national rate in New Mexico and several other states, including Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and California.
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