Albuquerque Teens Organize Walk Against Gun Violence

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This blog is an information site on the current gun violence in New Mexico and is dedicated to the children of New Mexico

By: Erica Zucco, KOB Eyewitness News 4......11/06/2015

This weekend, Albuquerque residents have a chance to stand with students fighting against youth gun violence in our community.

The Gun Sense Walk isn't about getting rid of guns; it's about stopping needless gun violence and promoting gun safety to protect all children and teenagers.

The walls of Highland High School are lined with posters spreading love in the name of Lilly Garcia, the 4-year-old killed after a road rage incident.

One message: think twice before pulling the trigger.

"During that moment of anger, anything can happen," Thao Vo said.

Recent shooting deaths have hit close to home for Albuquerque kids and teens, so much so that some high school students, working with a group of moms fighting against gun violence, are holding a walk to say "no more."

It's dedicated to Jaydon Chavez Silver, the much loved Manzano High School student and athlete gunned down in June.

Jaydon Chavez-Silver was shot at a house party in late June in Albuquerque, New Mexico, after a 911 dispatcher refused medical assistance when a frantic caller who was trying to resuscitate Jaydon used profanity.

Donovan Maez was in court on three separate cases, one for burglary, one for selling counterfeit drugs and another for murder. He’s accused of killing Chavez-Silver at a party at a home near Lomas and Tramway

"We want to let the community and the state know that enough is enough. It's time for us, each and every one of us, to stand up and speak out about all the violence that's happened in our community and make sure we don't lose another person," Vo said.

It's about promoting communication instead of violence. The group's motto:

"Words scar, bullets kill. Shatter the silence," Beth Narin said.

The walk will head to Los Altos Park, where a now infamous case of youth gun violence happened, leaving a 17-year-old dead.

Organizers hope it gets more young adults involved in calling for change and inspires local and state leaders to make those changes happen.

The walk takes place Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. It starts at Wilson Stadium near Juan Tabo and Lomas.

http://www.kob.com/article/stories/s3955478.shtml#.Vjz9eKI0qhw

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Albuquerque councilor wants to give cities, counties power to regulate guns!

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Broken Culture Review.....The New Mexico Gun Violence Epidemic....Main Index

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Albuquerque councilor wants to give cities, counties power to regulate guns!

"Republicans in the state House would likely block the amendment "

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) – An Albuquerque city councilor wants state lawmakers to change New Mexico’s constitution so city and county governments can regulate guns locally.

Councilor Diane Gibson says the recent shooting deaths of Albuquerque police officer Daniel Webster and four-year-old Lilly Garcia had her looking at ways to strengthen city gun laws. She says things like an assault weapons ban or limiting where guns are allowed are changes she’d like to see discussed.

However, in 1986 voters changed the New Mexico constitution to severely limit local control over gun regulations. Article II, Section 6 reads, in part: No municipality or county shall regulate, in any way, an incident of the right to keep and bear arms.

“They were different times, that was nearly 30 years ago,” Gibson said. “I think it’s time that we had the discussion.”

Gibson has introduced a resolution calling on state lawmakers to give voters an opportunity to repeal that amendment. She says the “one size fits all” approach currently under state law is too restrictive.

The proposed change has some in the gun industry a bit worried.

“Obviously it’s not something we want to see,” said Will Hogsett, chief operating officer at Albuquerque-based gun store Calibers.

Hogsett says allowing cities and counties to impose their own gun rules would be onerous for gun owners and bad for business.

“As a business it makes it much more convoluted and it makes it much harder to actually do business when one city can do one thing and Santa Fe can do another,” Hogsett said.

In other states where local gun regulation is allowed, cities like New York and Chicago have significantly stricter gun laws on the books than you see in the rest of the state.

Gibson says she hasn’t “formally” spoken with lawmakers about carrying the constitutional amendment she’s seeking. Several Democratic lawmakers KRQE News 13 spoke to said they’d be supportive of the idea but none committed to carrying it. The political reality is that Republicans in the state House would likely block the amendment if it is introduced."

By Alex Goldsmith Published: November 2, 2015

This blog is an information site on the current gun violence in New Mexico and is dedicated to the children of New Mexico

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"Turnstile Thugs Terrorize Albuquerque"...Albuquerque Journal

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Broken Culture Review.....The New Mexico Gun Violence Epidemic....Main Index

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This blog is an information site on the current gun violence in New Mexico and is dedicated to the children of New Mexico

"Turnstile thugs terrorize Albuquerque".....By Mike Gallagher / Albuquerque Journal Investigative Reporter....November 1st, 2015.....Click on the photo to enlarge.

"The blood:
Albuquerque Police Officer Daniel Webster died from his wounds last week after being shot during a traffic arrest.
Rio Rancho Police Officer Gregg Benner was shot and killed during a traffic stop in Rio Rancho last May.
Albuquerque Officer Lou Golson was seriously wounded from multiple gunshots in early January.
In each case, the suspect had prior violent felony convictions and had served time in state prison.
In another case that outraged the community, the man who allegedly shot and killed 4-year-old Lilly Garcia during a road rage incident once faced a previous road rage charge, but it was dropped.

New Mexico has the second-highest violent crime rate per 100,000 population in the country, according to FBI reports.
Yet New Mexico sends fewer people to prison on a per capita basis than the neighboring states of Texas, Arizona, Colorado and Oklahoma.
And New Mexico’s prison inmates return to prison after release at a higher rate than in those same states.
At the same time, the number of officers on the street in Albuquerque is 865, well below the number city officials believe necessary, while the city works to revamp the department under the oversight of a federal court monitor after the Department of Justice found APD had a culture of using excessive and deadly force."

The article failed to mention that New Mexico is among states with some of the least restrictive firearms laws in the country.

Since New Mexico has no gun laws......"The United States Attorney’s Office has stepped in to try to keep the “Worst of the Worst” off the streets. It has brought charges against the suspects in the shootings of Webster, Benner and Golson, and is canvassing local law enforcement agencies for cases in which tough federal sentencing laws can get repeat offenders off the street......“The death of officer Benner brought to light how overwhelmed the state system is,” U.S. Attorney Damon Martinez said. “We had to do something.”.....For example, Martinez’s office charged Davon Lyman for being a felon in possession of a firearm in connection with the shooting death of APD officer Webster......That was a move to give District Attorney Kari Brandenburg’s office and local police time to gather evidence in Webster’s killing so the state can bring charges......Martinez’s office also charged the suspects in the shootings of Golson and Benner with federal firearms violations and other charges that not only kept them locked up with no bonds, but can also result in long federal prison sentences."....http://www.abqjournal.com/668821/news/turnstile-thugs-terrorize-our-town.html

"In the wake of recent events that have shocked the state, there is a growing chorus demanding changes to protect the public from such predators.
Mayor Richard Berry has proposed a series of changes – ranging from allowing retired officers to come back to the force and keep their pensions to rewriting new speedy trial rules to give prosecutors more time to turn over evidence to criminal defendants and their attorneys.
Political and judicial leaders have also come forward with suggestions.....Some of the changes will require legislative action and appropriation. Others will build off existing law enforcement programs. And still others will require the state Supreme Court to issue new court rules.
“We have to change our laws,” Police Chief Gorden Eden said immediately after Webster was shot and while he was still battling for his life. “The scales of justice are out of balance.”
And not a single comment about:
State permit to purchase a firearm.
Firearm registration?
Assault weapon law?
Magazine Capacity Restriction?
Owner license required?
Carry permits issued?
"Turnstile Thugs Terrorize Albuquerque"...Albuquerque Journal

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Broken Culture Review......Main Index

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Broken Culture Review.....The New Mexico Gun Violence Epidemic....Main Index

Click Here to View the Main Index

This blog is an information site on the current gun violence in New Mexico and is dedicated to the children of New Mexico

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Albuquerque Teens Organize Walk Against Gun Violence...Saturday November 7, 2015

Lilly Garcia, shot & killed in Albuquerque, New Mexico on October 21, 2015

Albuquerque police officer Daniel Webster shot on October 21, 2015

Officer Gregg Benner was shot and killed during a traffic stop...May 2015

New Mexico Public Officials & Gun Registration

The New Mexico Prison System & the Gun Violence Epidemic

Gun Registration in California & New Mexico

The Mexican Drug Cartel & New Mexico Gun Violence

New Mexico Biker Gangs & Gun Registration

"Turnstile Thugs Terrorize Albuquerque"...Albuquerque Journal

Albuquerque councilor wants to give cities, counties power to regulate guns!

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November 2015

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Officer Gregg Benner was shot and killed during a traffic stop...May 2015

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Broken Culture Review.....The New Mexico Gun Violence Epidemic....Main Index

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This blog is an information site on the current gun violence in New Mexico and is dedicated to the children of New Mexico

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Officer Gregg Benner was shot and killed during a traffic stop

"ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Copyright © 2015 Albuquerque Journal....For the third time this year, a local law enforcement officer was gunned down during a traffic stop.....“We shouldn’t be getting used to this. This year has been a heavy year for us,” officer Simon Drobik said after a police news conference Thursday evening."

RIO RANCHO, N.M. —Rio Rancho police said 49-year-old Officer Gregg ‘Nigel’ Benner was shot and killed during a traffic stop Monday night.....Benner was a four-year veteran of the department and was a retired Air Force veteran. He is survived by his wife and five adult children.Police said Benner made a traffic stop near Southern Boulevard and Pinetree Road around 8 p.m. According to police, Andrew Romero, 28, and a woman were in the car. There was an active warrant for Romero’s arrest.

Officer Gregg Benner

Andrew Romero

"Andrew Romero, 28, was arrested in connection with the fatal shooting, according to abqjournal.com. ....He has a lengthy criminal history including being charged with voluntary manslaughter in 2005....ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) – The man accused of killing Rio Rancho Police officer Greg Benner now faces federal charges....Officials announced on Friday that Romero would be charged with violating federal firearm laws.....If convicted, he faces 10 years in prison. However, if the court rules he’s a habitual violent offender, he faces a mandatory 15 years and could face up to life in prison......He’s also facing a possible life sentence without the possibility of parole for Officer Benner’s murder......

"Monday night, officer Benner pulled over a man and woman in an 1999 Dodge Durango at Arby's on Southern Boulevard. The license plate attached to the Durango did not match the vehicle, which may have been the impetus of the stop, according to a police spokesperson.....The suspects, a female driver and a passenger — a man identified as 28-year-old Andrew Romero — then fled in the vehicle and ended up near the Esther Bone Memorial Library.....Investigators are still trying to determine the exact details, but say at some point, the exchange turned violent. Police said Romero likely reached around the woman in the driver's seat and shot Benner several times in the torso.....Benner was unable to draw his gun in time, Rio Rancho Police Chief Michael Geier said.....Police confirmed in a Tuesday news conference that a handgun was used and at least three casings were found. The handgun was connected to a robbery that Romero allegedly committed later Monday night."....http://www.kob.com/article/stories/s3806808.shtml#.ViuMaqI0qhw

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October 2015

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Gun Registration in California & New Mexico

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Broken Culture Review.....Gun Registration in California & New Mexico....October 2015

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"The gun laws of California are some of the most restrictive in the United States. A Firearm Safety Certificate, obtained by passing a written test, is required for gun purchases. Handguns sold by dealers must be "California legal" by being listed on the state's Roster of Handguns Certified for Sale. This roster, which requires handgun manufacturers to pay a fee and submit specific models for safety testing, has become progressively more stringent over time and is currently the subject of a federal civil rights lawsuit on the basis that it is a de facto ban on new handgun models. Private sales of firearms must be done through a licensed dealer. All firearm sales are recorded by the state, and have a ten-day waiting period. Unlike most other states, California has no provision in its state constitution that explicitly guarantees an individual right to keep and bear arms. The California Supreme Court has maintained that most of California's restrictive gun laws are constitutional, based on the fact that the state's constitution does not explicitly guarantee private citizens the right to purchase, possess, or carry firearms."....https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_laws_in_California

"Gun laws in New Mexico regulate the sale, possession, and use of firearms and ammunition in the state of New Mexico in the United States.....New Mexico is among states with some of the least restrictive firearms laws in the country. State laws governing the possession and use of firearms include those in New Mexico Statutes Chapter 30, Article 7, "Weapons and Explosives".....New Mexico has state preemption of firearms laws, so local governments may not restrict the possession or use of firearms. However, local jurisdictions may restrict or ban the discharge of firearms within their boundaries. In 1986, Article 2, Section 6 of the state constitution was amended to say, "No law shall abridge the right of the citizen to keep and bear arms for security and defense, for lawful hunting and recreational use and for other lawful purposes, but nothing herein shall be held to permit the carrying of concealed weapons. No municipality or county shall regulate, in any way, an incident of the right to keep and bear arms."....https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_laws_in_New_Mexico

Open Carry..."New Mexico is a Permissive Open Carry state. Open carry of a loaded firearm without a license is legal statewide, except for restricted places listed in the section below. Provisions in the New Mexico Constitution prevent counties or municipalities from enacting ordinances restricting or banning open carry.... A Concealed Handgun License (CHL) is not required for open carry, concealed carry of an unloaded firearm on foot, or concealed carry of a loaded or unloaded firearm while in a vehicle (including motorcycles, bicycles, off-road vehicles, motor homes, or riding a horse)."....https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_laws_in_New_Mexico

"New Mexico's current concealed carry permit law was enacted in 2003. Prior to 2003, New Mexico was a hybrid No-Issue/Unrestricted state, where concealed carry was completely banned in incorporated cities and towns (although open carry without a permit has always been permitted statewide). In unincorporated rural areas, concealed carry without a license was legal. In 2001, state lawmakers passed a May-Issue concealed carry law that would have allowed cities and counties to opt out of honoring concealed carry permits and maintain outright bans on concealed carry. At the time, officials in most larger cities, notably Albuquerque and Santa Fe, strongly opposed the legalization of statewide concealed carry. After the May-Issue law was enacted but before it could go into effect, the City of Albuquerque filed a lawsuit (Baca v. New Mexico Department of Public Safety) to block implementation of the concealed carry law. Ultimately the May-Issue concealed carry law was struck down by the New Mexico Supreme Court before it could go into effect. The current Shall-Issue law, which pre-empted any existing local restrictions on firearms carry, was passed in 2003, with the issuance of Concealed Handgun Licenses beginning later that year, after surviving its own legal challenge by concealed carry opponents.".......https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_laws_in_New_Mexico

NMDPS Concealed Handgun Carry Unit....http://www.dps.state.nm.us/index.php/nm-concealed-carry/

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October 2015

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The New Mexico Prison System & the Gun Violence Epidemic

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Broken Culture Review.....The New Mexico Prison System & the Gun Violence Epidemic....October 2015

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"The Penitentiary of New Mexico (PNM) is a men's maximum-security prison located in unincorporated Santa Fe County, 15 miles (24 km) south of central Santa Fe, on New Mexico State Road 14.[1][2] It is operated by the New Mexico Corrections Department......The complex consists of three separate facilities. The facilities are now referred to as Level V (opened 1985), Level VI (opened 1985) and Level II (opened 1990) for the minimum restrict facility, based upon the New Mexico adaptation of the Federal Bureau of Prisons system for inmate classification and restriction. The regular daily population is about 790 inmates, whose average age is 32......The Level VI Supermax site contains New Mexico's Death Row. This is where Terry Clark was executed in 2001. He remains, as of 2014, the only execution in New Mexico since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976."......https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penitentiary_of_New_Mexico

"New Mexico has 33 counties.According to the latest jail census taken in 2006, there are 32 jail facilities and 8,877 inmates. There are no jail standards or inspection programs in the state..As of December 31, 2013, the New Mexico prison population was 6,849.....The New Mexico Corrections Department operates six state facilities and four private prisons. The Department's operating budget for FY2013 was approximately $288 million with 2,448 full time employees....The New Mexico Corrections Department, Probation & Parole Division supervised over 19,000 offenders during 2013."......http://nicic.gov/statestats/

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October 2015

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The Mexican Drug Cartel & New Mexico Gun Violence

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Broken Culture Review.....The Mexican Drug Cartel & the New Mexico Gun Violence Epidemic....October 2015

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Mexican Drug Cartels Are a Growing Force in New Mexico.....Echoing complaints made by authorities in other border towns, law enforcement authorities say that Mexico drug cartels are a growing force in northern New Mexico.....The Farmington Daily Times reports that Region II Narcotics Task Force Director Neil Haws says the Juárez cartel has been operating for two years in San Juan County, for example, but that the Sinaloa and Michoacán cartels also have gained ground......Haws recently told Bloomfield city councilors that members of cartels live in the area with their families and recruit local gang members to sell their drugs to avoid detection.....Haws said cartel members find it easy to import the drugs, mainly meth, via wide-open New Mexico roads and reservation lands.....Farmington officials and the San Juan County Sheriff's Office have been lobbying for a federal magistrate for the area....Earlier this month, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott said that Mexico’s drug gang violence has become a crime issue in the Lone Star state, and he has sent a request to President Obama to bolster security along the U.S.-Mexican border that runs along the state......Fox News Latino....http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2011/11/21/mexican-drug-cartels-growing-force-in-new-mexico/

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October 2015

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New Mexico Biker Gangs & Gun Registration

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Broken Culture Review.....The New Mexico Gun Violence Epidemic....October 2015

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ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) – A deadly biker gang shootout in Texas is catching the attention of law enforcement nationwide, including in New Mexico. The state has seen its share of biker gang trouble here too.....The bloodbath in Waco, Texas, at a Twin Peaks restaurant left nine dead and 18 injured. Rival biker gangs met at the Twin Peaks location to discuss turf and recruitment. Police blamed management for ignoring law enforcement advice and for giving the bikers a welcome mat....http://krqe.com/2015/05/18/new-mexico-claimed-by-biker-gangs-hit-by-violence/

Concealed Carry in Wako Texas........The deadly biker gang shootout turned a Texas parking lot into a battlefield...... workers washed blood off the pavement Wednesday as police prepared to leave the scene of carnage......nine bikers killed in Sunday's shootout at a Twin Peaks restaurant.....So far, investigators combing the crime scene have found more than 300 weapons, and they expect the numbers will go up.....bikers scrambled to stash their weapons as law enforcement closed in......Police have spotted weapons inside sacks of tortilla chips, stuffed between bags of flour, hidden on shelves, tucked away inside kitchen stoves and tossed on the floor inside the restaurant."

Bandidos Official Webpage.....http://www.bandidosmcunitedstates.com/

The Bandidos Motorcycle Club, also known as the Bandido Nation, is a "one-percenter" motorcycle club.... and organized crime syndicate with a worldwide membership. The club was formed in 1966 by Don Chambers in Texas. Its motto is "We are the people our parents warned us about." It is estimated to have 2,400 members in 210 chapters, located in 22 countries. The club considers itself to be an outlaw motorcycle club. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Criminal Intelligence Service Canada have named the Bandidos an "outlaw motorcycle gang"......https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandidos_Motorcycle_Club

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October 2015

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New Mexico Public Officials & Gun Violence

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Broken Culture Review.....The New Mexico Gun Violence Epidemic....Main Index

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This blog is an information site on the current gun violence in New Mexico and is dedicated to the children of New Mexico

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New Mexico Public Officials & Their Views on Gun Violence

Susana Martinez (born July 14, 1959) is an American attorney and politician. She is the 31st and current Governor of New Mexico. A Republican, Martinez was elected Governor on November 2, 2010, and was sworn into office on January 1, 2011......Born in El Paso, Texas, Martinez is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma College of Law.

"As Governor of New Mexico, I have fought to protect gun owner’s rights in the Land of Enchantment and strongly support the Concealed Carry Law. In fact, I hold a Concealed Carry Permit and even scored perfectly on my most recent Concealed Carry renewal. Unfortunately, some on the Left believe they can score political points by pushing gun control legislation. If you support concealed carry and our 2nd Amendment rights, please sign the petition to stand with New Mexico’s gun owners and their rights!"

Richard J. Berry (born November 5, 1962) is the twenty-ninth and current Mayor of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and a former two term member of the New Mexico House of Representatives.....Berry was sworn into office on 1 December 2009, succeeding Democrat Martin Chávez. Berry is the first Republican Mayor of Albuquerque in over 30 years.

Mayors Against Illegal Guns Statement of Principles and then join Mayors Against Illegal Guns....."Now is the time to demand action from our elected officials on guns. In the wake of the massacre of 20 first graders and six educators, there is clear momentum for passing common sense gun control regulations, like mandatory background checks and a ban an assault weapons......Over 900 mayors from big cities and small towns from across the country have joined the coalition of Mayors Against Illegal Guns. But Albuquerque's mayor hasn’t signed on yet. Ask Richard J. Berry to join the coalition."

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. ..... Former New Mexico Public Safety Secretary Gorden Eden has been sworn in as the new police chief of the troubled Albuquerque Police Department..... Associated Press - Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Eden rips lawmakers after tragic, violent week in Albuquerque....'We need to rise up equally and have our voices heard in Santa Fe,' police chief says....Albuquerque Police Chief Gorden Eden took a tough emotional stance against state lawmakers Thursday afternoon, saying they're responsible for not passing tougher laws that would keep repeat offenders locked up.....His comments were made in the same week a 4-year-old girl was shot and killed during a road rage incident, and an Albuquerque police officer was shot in the head attempting to conduct a traffic stop.....His patience with repeat offenders is clearly wearing thin, a group, he says, that are preying on the people of Albuquerque as well as their protectors....."To me, I'm at a loss," he said. "I think it speaks to the systematic failure of the Legislature, it speaks to the systematic failure of the courts system."...Just three weeks into the job as police chief, Gorden Eden released video of Albuquerque police shooting a homeless man as he turned away from them....Eden called the shooting justified....Eden faced calls to resign for describing the shooting as justified, and he later apologized."

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October 2015

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Albuquerque police officer Daniel Webster shot & killed on October 21, 2015

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Broken Culture Review.....The New Mexico Gun Violence Epidemic....Main Index

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This blog is an information site on the current gun violence in New Mexico and is dedicated to the children of New Mexico

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Officer Daniel Webster died early Thursday at University of New Mexico Hospital, a little more than a week after he was shot by an ex-convict carrying a concealed automatic pistol......Webster's death followed an especially violent week in New Mexico's largest city in which police say another gunman shot and killed a 4-year-old girl amid a road rage dispute......Webster had suffered gunshot wounds to his upper body and jaw on the night of Oct. 21, and he had undergone emergency surgeries after Davon Lymon opened fire on him outside a pharmacy, authorities said.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — October 21, 2015...An ex-convict was charged Thursday in the shooting of an Albuquerque police officer who was in critical condition after being wounded outside a pharmacy during a traffic stop, authorities said....officers found a .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol.

"A federal criminal complaint against suspect Davon Lymon says the officer's wounds include one to his face.....

"Lymon, 34, of Albuquerque was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, court records show. Authorities say he has a criminal record.....The shooting occurred as New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas has launched a task force to examine how repeat offenders leave the state's criminal justice system quickly and commit more crimes.....The move came after another repeat offender was accused of killing a Rio Rancho police officer earlier this year.....The complaint filed Thursday in U.S. District Court by a federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives officer cited Lymon's previous felony convictions in New Mexico.....He pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and aggravated battery in 2002, and to fraud and forgery the year before.....He also faced aggravated battery and kidnapping charges last year that were dismissed....

"The federal complaint said Webster was shot after he pulled Lymon over while Lymon was riding a motorcycle with a stolen license plate. Lymon pulled out a gun and fired it six times as the officer attempted to handcuff Lymon to the motorcycle, the complaint said.....It also said officers found a .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol in a vacant lot where Lymon headed after the shooting.....The federal complaint said Lymon had a handcuff on his left wrist when he was found hiding in a shed and that he was hospitalized for injuries sustained during his apprehension by a police dog."

"Albuquerque Police Officers Association President Stephanie Lopez & vice president Shaun Willoughby visited the scene of the shooting and urged the community to support officers......Both said they believe officers are being second-guessed following a federal Department of Justice investigation into use of force by Albuquerque police....."There is a criminal element that feels emboldened because the DOJ has tied the hands" of Albuquerque police, Lopez said."

RUSSELL CONTRERAS and PAUL DAVENPORT.....http://news.yahoo.com/police-arrest-made-shooting-albuquerque-officer-075606273.html

"New Mexico is among states with some of the least restrictive firearms laws in the country. State laws governing the possession and use of firearms include those in New Mexico Statutes Chapter 30, Article 7, "Weapons and Explosives"....New Mexico is a Permissive Open Carry state. Open carry of a loaded firearm without a license is legal statewide, except for restricted places listed in the section below. Provisions in the New Mexico Constitution prevent counties or municipalities from enacting ordinances restricting or banning open carry."

Click to enlarge.....Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_laws_in_New_Mexico

"New Mexico's current concealed carry permit law was enacted in 2003....At the time, officials in most larger cities, notably Albuquerque and Santa Fe, strongly opposed the legalization of statewide concealed carry. After the May-Issue law was enacted but before it could go into effect, the City of Albuquerque filed a lawsuit (Baca v. New Mexico Department of Public Safety) to block implementation of the concealed carry law. Ultimately the May-Issue concealed carry law was struck down by the New Mexico Supreme Court before it could go into effect. The current Shall-Issue law, which pre-empted any existing local restrictions on firearms carry, was passed in 2003, with the issuance of Concealed Handgun Licenses beginning later that year, after surviving its own legal challenge by concealed carry opponents."....https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_laws_in_New_Mexico

"Even with a concealed carry permit, it is not legal to carry a firearm into a federal building, school, or restaurant that serves alcohol.[10] Carrying of a concealed weapon into a store that sells alcohol for off site consumption is legal, but open carry is not allowed in these locations. The state also has an "opt-out" statute, allowing home and business owners the ability to legally forbid firearms on their property and/or in their buildings with appropriately displayed signage stating such prohibition. While violating these "gun free" areas is a 4th Degree Felony that is punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment and/or a $5,000 fine, it is more common for those who inadvertently carry into such areas to be reprimanded by law enforcement officials and possibly have their concealed carry license suspended or revoked.

New Mexico has an "extended domain" law, which means that a person's vehicle (including motorcycles, bicycles, all-terrain vehicles, RVs, and while riding a horse) is considered an extension of their home. It is therefore legal to carry a loaded firearm without a permit, openly or concealed, anywhere in a vehicle. On foot, no permit is required to carry a firearm unless it is both loaded and concealed.

Concealed carry of an unloaded firearm is legal without a permit in New Mexico, however the same restrictions that apply to openly carried firearms apply. Persons under age 19 cannot carry in this manner unless traveling to certain sporting, recreational or training events as defined in law or on property controlled by parents, grandparents or guardians and under their supervision.

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October 2015

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Lilly Garcia, shot & killed in Albuquerque, New Mexico on October 21, 2015

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This blog is an information site on the current epidemic of gun violence in New Mexico and is dedicated to the children of New Mexico

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ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE)...October 30, 2015 – "The driver suspected of killing 4-year-old Lilly Garcia in a fit of road rage is in more trouble......The Federal DEA has now hit Tony Torrez with gun and drug dealing charges....at his home in the Westgate neighborhood of Albuquerque, they found him and a woman loading things up in a car, before the woman drove off in it.....investigators found two assault rifles, a revolver, a bulletproof vest and duffle bags filled with baggies of marijuana in the car Torrez was loading up....the car Torrez had been driving had a grocery bag full of cash and some “marijuana in folded court documents in the floorboard.....Investigators found more cash at his home, altogether totaling to $64,000....they also discovered digital scales, several cell phones, duffle bags and plastic bags.....Police said Torrez confessed to shooting at the truck 4 year old Lilly and her family were in after he became enraged with Lilly’s father while driving on the freeway."

Lilly (Illiana) Garcia, age 4, died after taking a gunshot to the head on the way back from school in her father's car.

Lilly Garcia, who was killed in road rage incident in Albuquerque, New Mexico on October 21, 2015

"Lilly was riding in her family's car with her brother and her father, Alan Garcia, Tuesday afternoon on Interstate 40 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, when another car pulled up beside them and began firing into the car in what police believe was a road rage incident.....Lilly was struck in the back of the head and later died in the hospital. "She was just a beautiful, beautiful soul," her mother Veronica Garcia said."

Albuquerque Police arrested a man in connection with Lilly's killing on Wednesday.....Albuquerque Police Chief Gorden Eden said that Tony Torrez, 32, was taken into custody after they received an anonymous call from a person claiming they knew who had shot Lilly....Torrez confessed to the murder, police said. He is being held on $650,000 cash bond.

"New Mexico has an "extended domain" law, which means that a person's vehicle (including motorcycles, bicycles, all-terrain vehicles, RVs, and while riding a horse) is considered an extension of their home. It is therefore legal to carry a loaded firearm without a permit, openly or concealed, anywhere in a vehicle."....https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_laws_in_New_Mexico

Tony Torrez was arrested for four prior violent felony arrests between 2006 and 2014, but was not convicted in any of the cases, Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court Judge Chris J. Schultz said at an appearance for Torrez on Thursday.

"Torrez was involved in another attack nine years earlier.... he allegedly pulled a gun on another driver in 2006, the Albuquerque Journal reported....Torrez allegedly snapped when another driver became angry over Torrez’s car blocking the exit of a parking structure......The other driver told police that he was able to disarm Torrez and put him in a chokehold. When the weapon fell to the ground, however, both men struggled to retrieve it, causing it to fire three times -- striking a friend of Torrez in the forehead......Injuries sustained in that altercation were not disclosed, according to the Journal's review, and charges against Torrez were not pursued because of a lack of cooperation from the other driver and the victim."

"Torrez has been charged with an open count of murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, assault with the intent to commit a violent felony, shooting at or from a motor vehicle, child abuse, child abuse resulting in death and tampering with evidence."

"The judge said he considers Torrez to be a flight risk due to numerous instances of him failing to appear in court.....Court records show Torrez has about a dozen prior felony charges, including charges from another incident in which he was accused of pulling a gun on another driver. However, all previous felony charges against Torrez were either dismissed or dropped......Prosecutors charged Torrez in 2006 with aggravated battery and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. A man told investigators Torrez pulled a gun on him after an argument. The victim defended himself and was able to get Torrez in a chokehold, and the gun fired as they wrestled.....Prosecutors ended up dropping the charges because the victim and a witness would not cooperate......In 2010, police arrested Torrez for kidnapping, aggravated battery, domestic violence and child abuse. Court records show the dismissal of those charges in 2013 after the victim died from an unrelated cause......Two earlier cases of aggravated battery were also dismissed, and a 2014 arrest for negligent use of a deadly weapon also resulted with charges being dropped."......

"The red Toyota believed to be involved in the road rage incident was located Thursday, police said, after the appropriate warrants were acquired......"One of those warrants was for a house in the 7600 block of Saltbrush southwest, which is the home of Mr. Torrez," Officer Tanner Tixier said. "Inside the garage at this residence was the (Toyota) detectives were actively searching for."....It will be processed for forensic evidence, Tixier said......Detectives also recovered the firearm believed to be involved with the girl's shooting death."......Devon Armijo.....KOAT HEARST-ARGYLE TELEVISION, INC ......http://www.koat.com/news/heavy-police-presence-closes-i40-west-at-unser/35947470

"New Mexico is among states with some of the least restrictive firearms laws in the country. State laws governing the possession and use of firearms include those in New Mexico Statutes Chapter 30, Article 7, "Weapons and Explosives"....New Mexico is a Permissive Open Carry state. Open carry of a loaded firearm without a license is legal statewide, except for restricted places listed in the section below. Provisions in the New Mexico Constitution prevent counties or municipalities from enacting ordinances restricting or banning open carry."

Click to enlarge.....Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_laws_in_New_Mexico

"New Mexico's current concealed carry permit law was enacted in 2003....At the time, officials in most larger cities, notably Albuquerque and Santa Fe, strongly opposed the legalization of statewide concealed carry. After the May-Issue law was enacted but before it could go into effect, the City of Albuquerque filed a lawsuit (Baca v. New Mexico Department of Public Safety) to block implementation of the concealed carry law. Ultimately the May-Issue concealed carry law was struck down by the New Mexico Supreme Court before it could go into effect. The current Shall-Issue law, which pre-empted any existing local restrictions on firearms carry, was passed in 2003, with the issuance of Concealed Handgun Licenses beginning later that year, after surviving its own legal challenge by concealed carry opponents."....https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_laws_in_New_Mexico

"Even with a concealed carry permit, it is not legal to carry a firearm into a federal building, school, or restaurant that serves alcohol.[10] Carrying of a concealed weapon into a store that sells alcohol for off site consumption is legal, but open carry is not allowed in these locations. The state also has an "opt-out" statute, allowing home and business owners the ability to legally forbid firearms on their property and/or in their buildings with appropriately displayed signage stating such prohibition. While violating these "gun free" areas is a 4th Degree Felony that is punishable by up to 18 months imprisonment and/or a $5,000 fine, it is more common for those who inadvertently carry into such areas to be reprimanded by law enforcement officials and possibly have their concealed carry license suspended or revoked.

New Mexico has an "extended domain" law, which means that a person's vehicle (including motorcycles, bicycles, all-terrain vehicles, RVs, and while riding a horse) is considered an extension of their home. It is therefore legal to carry a loaded firearm without a permit, openly or concealed, anywhere in a vehicle. On foot, no permit is required to carry a firearm unless it is both loaded and concealed.

Concealed carry of an unloaded firearm is legal without a permit in New Mexico, however the same restrictions that apply to openly carried firearms apply. Persons under age 19 cannot carry in this manner unless traveling to certain sporting, recreational or training events as defined in law or on property controlled by parents, grandparents or guardians and under their supervision.

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Email....brokenculturereview@gmail.com

October 2015

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