Albuquerque Teens Organize Walk Against Gun Violence

**************************

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

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

**************************

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

**************************

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

Click Here to View the Main Index

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

**************************

**************************

"Turnstile Thugs Terrorize Albuquerque"...Albuquerque Journal

**************************

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

"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

**************************