SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham declared gun violence a public health emergency following the murder of an 11-year-old boy on his way home from a baseball game on the night of Sept. 6.
“Today, I join the family of an 11-year-old boy in mourning his violent death yesterday. And I mourn the loss of a 5-year-old girl murdered in her bed last month. These are disgusting acts of violence that have no place in our communities," Lujan Grisham said.
She sent her condolences to the families that have been affected by the tragedies.
"As a mother and grandmother, I cannot fathom the depth of these losses, and their effects will be felt by families, friends and communities forever. I send my most sincere condolences to the loved ones of both of these children," she said.
She declared gun violence a public health emergency on Sept. 7.
"This administration has done meaningful work to pass legislation, support law enforcement and significantly increase public safety resources to curb violence. But it is clear that we need to do more," she said.
She went on to list things she wanted to see done in the state to prevent gun violence.
"“I want to know that local officials are giving the epidemic of gun violence the attention it deserves. I want to know that every parent is making sure their guns are locked up. I want to know that district attorneys and judges are using every tool at their disposal to hold bad actors accountable," Lujan Grisham said. "I want to know that every gun store is not allowing straw purchases. I want to know that every law enforcement agency is using our red flag law."
She spoke about the consequences of what could happen if these things were not done.
"But until that happens in every community in our state, New Mexicans will continue to die. We must hold each other to a higher standard for the sake of our children," Lujan Grisham said.
She also encouraged citizens of New Mexico to speak up about gun violence.
“To my fellow citizens: get loud. Step up. Demand change: from your neighbors, from your friends, from your communities, from your elected leaders. Enough is enough," she said.
The Executive Order provides $750,000 to state agencies for the purposes of quickly reducing gun violence and encourages mayors, sheriffs and other officials to request additional emergency funding from the state as well.
Lujan Grisham has asked the federal government to deploy additional resources to New Mexico since June 2022. On Sept. 7 the governor sent a fourth letter to the U.S. Department of Justice – urging them to send immediate resources to New Mexico to assist in stemming the tide of violent crime. She has regularly sent these letters over the course of the last year without action from the Department of Justice.
She urged the U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland to help New Mexico.
"Attorney General Garland, I have asked you—in fact begged you—to send additional federal agents to New Mexico on multiple occasions, only to be met with deafening silence," Lujan Grisham said.
On Sept. 8 Lujan Grisham will be holding a meeting to determine immediate steps that will be taken to crack down further on gun violence in New Mexico communities.
