Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham
From the Office of the Governor:
SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued a statement following the discovery of two guns brought onto campus in separate instances by teenaged boys at West Mesa High School in Albuquerque.
“I am incredibly relieved that these weapons were safely recovered from these students. But we know that aside from the physical harm that guns can inflict, when firearms are brought on school campuses students feel scared, traumatized – and certainly unable to focus on learning. Gun violence – and the near-constant threat of gun violence – is wreaking havoc on the psyches of our youth.
“We must treat gun violence as the epidemic it truly is – and ‘epidemic’ is not an exaggeration. Guns are the leading cause of death among New Mexico’s children.
“I am thankful for the quick response of Albuquerque Public Schools, as well as the parent who did the right thing by calling in a tip that led staff to one of the firearms – but the bottom line is that all of us have to do more to make sure kids don’t have such easy access to guns. Every one of us has a responsibility to make sure students are safe at school. I am clear: whether we are talking about juveniles or criminals, it is far too easy for the wrong people to get their hands on guns.
“Schools should be among the safest places for children, and I am committed to continuing to provide resources to schools to improve security, safety and wellbeing.”
The governor, with the Legislature’s support, secured $35 million for school safety infrastructure in the last session, as well as $7 million in federal funding for schools to integrate their communications systems with emergency responders and $6.5 million for behavioral health services in schools.
The New Mexico Public Education Department is expected to open a second round of funding for the $7 million for communications integration next week.
The governor also reminds gun owners that free gun locks are available at Department of Health Public Health Offices and at safestoragenm.org.