New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued a statement Sept. 7 declaring gun violence a public health emergency following the murder of an 11-year-old New Mexican boy. This move has brought some, including New Mexican House Republican Leader Ryan Lane, to wonder about the political motivations behind this.
"It is unfortunate that the governor has decided to politicize the death of an 11-year-old to push her anti-gun agenda," Lane said. "What's likewise unfortunate is that with billions in revenue this state has not funded meaningful criminal justice reform including addressing reckless pretrial release policies and behavioral health rehabilitation. The Democrat's policies have created and exacerbated the crime crisis that is literally killing New Mexicans daily. It is unacceptable that it has taken this long to notice the number of everyday New Mexicans that are being affected by criminal violence."
On Sept. 6, a family was leaving an Albuquerque Isotopes minor league baseball game at Isotopes Park when they were fired upon in a road rage incident, accordin gto a KOB 4 report. Their vehicle had pulled in front of another vehicle, who then confronted the family. Someone from the other vehicle started shooting at the family, killing an 11-year-old, before speeding away.
The next day, Grisham issued her statement declaring gun violence a public health emergency and sent a letter U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland requesting aid fighting gun violence in New Mexico. The governor said she has requested federal help several times since last summer, AP News reported.
In her statement, Grisham also mentioned the recent death of a 5-year-old girl who was murdered in her own bed in August. Her executive order will provide $750,000 to state agencies to help stymie gun violence in New Mexico, and encouraged mayors, sheriffs and other officials to request additional funding as needed.
In a study based on available data from 2022, New Mexico has the second highest rate of violent crime of any state at 7.8 violent crimes per 1,000 residents, behind only Alaska, according to SafeWise.
New Mexico has the 12th highest rate of gun violence in the U.S., as 433 people die and 618 are wounded by guns in New Mexico in an average year. The rate of gun deaths increased 53% from 2011 to 2020, while the national average increased by 33%. In New Mexico, 63% of gun deaths are suicide, EveryStat reported.
During the 2023 legislative session, New Mexican Republicans made public remarks about feeling that certain Republican-backed crime bills were passed over in favor of similar Democrat-backed crime bills, New Mexico Sun reported.
