New Mexico Declares Gun Violence a Public Health Emergency After Tragic Child Death – Governor Takes Action!

Gun Violence Declared a Public Health Emergency

New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has declared gun violence a public health emergency in the state following the tragic death of an 11-year-old boy in a shooting incident on a highway. This declaration comes in the wake of increased gun-related deaths in New Mexico, with the governor citing a 43 percent increase in gun deaths from 2009 to 2018, compared to an 18 percent increase nationwide. Guns are identified as the leading cause of death for children and teenagers in the state.

In her statement, Governor Lujan Grisham expressed her condolences for the young boy’s death and the recent killing of a 5-year-old girl in the area, emphasizing that such acts of violence have no place in their communities. She called for new measures to combat gun violence and announced her intention to convene a meeting to determine concrete steps to reduce the harm caused by guns.

She also urged the people of New Mexico to take action against gun violence and called on them to demand change from their neighbors, friends, communities, and elected leaders, stating that “enough is enough.”

However, her declaration was met with criticism from New Mexico House Republican Minority Leader Ryan Lane, who accused her of politicizing the tragedy to advance her anti-gun agenda. Lane argued that the policies of the Democratic party had contributed to the crime crisis in the state.

This declaration underscores the growing concern over gun violence in many parts of the United States and the ongoing debate over how to address this pressing issue.