Zachary Fort, president of the New Mexico Shooting Sports Association, addressed concerns about rising youth crime in a recent podcast. He emphasized that supervised youth shooting sports should not be conflated with the issue and argued that banning individuals under 18 from holding firearms overlooks the real causes of violence.
"We have a problem in New Mexico, especially in Albuquerque with increasingly younger children getting involved in serious crime," said Fort. "It is a real problem that we have to address as a community and as a state. Banning someone under the age of 18 from even holding a firearm is not the answer to the crime problem that we have with this. Youth shooting sports is a bunch of stellar high school students going out there with a teacher who's supervising them, everyone following every safety precaution and having a lot of fun."
According to Fort, his comments come amid growing concern over juvenile violence in New Mexico, particularly in Albuquerque. Local investigations indicate that while some categories of juvenile crime have decreased overall, murders committed by minors have increased. Officials describe this situation as an epidemic of "kids killing other kids," with firearms often obtained through social media. In a recent episode of New Mexico SunCast, Fort discussed how failures in criminal justice and supervision—not lawful youth shooting sports—are driving gun crime. He urged lawmakers to differentiate between predatory street violence and structured programs run by schools and clubs.
Recent data highlight the problem Fort references. A 2025 KOAT Target 7 report identified New Mexico as one of the deadliest states for juveniles, with officials warning of an epidemic of youth-on-youth violence despite declines in some overall juvenile crime measures. A KOB 4 Investigates analysis reported a 57% increase in juvenile gun crime from 2022 to 2023 before a 37.5% drop in the first ten months of 2024, indicating volatility rather than resolution. High-profile cases such as a drive-by shooting that killed a five-year-old girl and a fatal hit-and-run involving a twelve-year-old driver have intensified calls for improved juvenile justice responses and community interventions.
In contrast, organized youth shooting sports emphasize structure and safety. The National 4-H Shooting Sports program reports teaching shooting sports to approximately 500,000 boys and girls annually through certified instructors and safety-focused curricula. A statement from the National Shooting Sports Foundation notes that more than 25,000 instructors reach roughly 400,000 youths each year in these programs, focusing on safe firearm use, archery, and hunting ethics. Research cited by the International Shooting Sport Federation describes shooting sport as one of the safest youth sports when properly supervised.
Fort is also known for his advocacy on Second Amendment issues as president of the New Mexico Shooting Sports Association. He has been active in statewide debates over red-flag laws and emergency gun restrictions, appearing on various media platforms to argue for protecting lawful gun owners while targeting violent offenders. Additionally, he is involved in Fort v. Grisham, challenging New Mexico’s temporary carry bans, and recently joined the Southwest Public Policy Institute’s board of directors to expand his role in regional policy advocacy.
