(PartiallyPolitics.com) – Following the tragic shooting of an 11-year-old in New Mexico, the state’s Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham declared gun violence a public health emergency. The incident, which took place on Avenida Cesar Chavez near University Boulevard, also critically injured a woman. While the identities of the victims remain undisclosed, Albuquerque’s Police Chief, Harold Medina, verified the sad event in a press conference.
Governor Lujan Grisham expressed her deep sorrow not just for this young boy’s death but also for the unrelated death of a 5-year-old girl killed previously in the region. Her statement resonated with anguish: “The loss of young lives in such a violent manner is heart-wrenching. Our community needs to come together and address this issue. The toll these tragedies take on families and the broader community is immeasurable.”
Stressing the urgency of the situation, Lujan Grisham mentioned, “Routine approaches are no longer adequate. Therefore, I am formally recognizing gun violence as a pressing health concern for New Mexico.” The governor’s decree highlighted that from 2009 to 2018, New Mexico saw a 43% surge in gun-related deaths, significantly above the national average growth of 18%. The order further emphasized the alarming fact that firearms are now the primary reason for deaths among the youth in New Mexico.
Encouraging proactive measures from her constituents, the governor stated, “I call on all New Mexicans to come forward, raise their voices, and demand an end to this crisis. We must all play a part, from our neighbors to our officials. We must say, ‘No more.'”
However, not everyone agreed with the governor’s stance. Ryan Lane, the Republican Minority Leader of New Mexico’s House, criticized the governor, suggesting she was leveraging the tragedy to promote her stance on gun control. Lane’s statement pointed out, “The current policies have only intensified the crime situation in our state. It’s high time to recognize and address the rampant criminal violence affecting our citizens daily.”‘
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