Good afternoon, Democrats!

“A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

For you Constitutional originalists out there, that’s the Second Amendment to the Constitution.

So, let’s talk about guns and the Second Amendment to the Constitution of this great country. I’ll preface this by saying these are my personal thoughts and not those of the Democratic Party of Torrance County or anyone else for that matter. I’ll also preface this by saying I have lived in rural New Mexico essentially all my life and I am a gun owner and have been all my adult life. My dad taught us to respect guns and how to handle them at a young age.  I welcome your thoughts and opinions as well.

Growing up, I don’t recall grown men or women feeling the need to walk around with a gun strapped to their hip. This seems to be a recent phenomenon fostered, I believe, out of some fear (probably promoted by the NRA) that if too many people are killed by guns, local and state governments might take some commonsense actions to reduce the deaths, so let’s show our defiance by toting a pistol. 

Despite what the NRA advocates, most Americans believe we need to tackle the gun violence issue. A start is by endorsing commonsense reforms to the who, why, and where of guns.  You should start with some basic tenets. These are mine:

• ·        Not all guns should be available to the general public. There is no need for AR-15 or other semi-automatic, military-style guns in our society. They are not needed for hunting or for personal protection.
• ·        Guns don’t belong in the hands of certain people. Clearly those with mental health issues, convicted felons, fugitives from justice, drug abusers, those discharged from the military under dishonorable conditions, those who have renounced their citizenship, illegal aliens to name a few.
• ·        Guns don’t belong in certain places. Not in schools, not in courtrooms, not in bars, not at ballgames, and not in governmental meeting places where differences of opinions can get heated. Personally, I don’t believe they should be in any place where large groups of people are mixed with controversial matters. 

You may or may not agree with me. That’s fine, we’re all entitled to our opinions. But as we recently learned, our Governor is frustrated with gun violence in New Mexico and the lack of any movement to deal with it. The legislature seems afraid to tackle the issue, most likely because of fear of political backlash.

So, what was Governor Lujan Grisham thinking when she signed an executive order temporarily banning open carry in Bernalillo County. I’ve known Michelle for many years. During her career both pre-political and after she was elected to office, the welfare of NM children has been her main priority. To see children cut down by gun violence cuts her to the quick. I think the recent spate of deaths of children in Bernalillo County was the last straw and she felt she needed to do something to move the gun issue back to the foreground. She certainly accomplished that! 

Let’s face it, historically we all get riled up when there are mass shootings or when a child is killed. We offer our thoughts and prayers and two days later it’s forgotten. We can’t continue this way. I understand that 99% of gun owners are law-abiding citizens but this “guns don’t kill people, people do” B-S has got to stop and we, as a society, must work on solutions. I agree part of that is revising the so-called “catch and release” policies that the courts have instituted – part of it tightening our borders – but part of it is also limiting the types of weapons available, enforcing restrictions on who can purchase firearms, and yes, limiting where guns are allowed. 

If it takes an executive order to wake us up, then I say thank you to the Governor. Read the comments in Sunday’s Albuquerque Journal. People are getting fed up with gun violence. Let’s do something about it!

Oh, by the way, I’m not as convinced as some that her actions were unconstitutional, but then again, I’m not running for political office. Once again, just my opinion. 

Dennis Wallin

DPTC Chair