The real story on gun safety group

With regard to Zachary Fort’s My View (“We’re just trying to protect ourselves,” Nov. 5), I suggest that he do his homework before he launches an attack on New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence and its co-president, Miranda Viscoli. He refers to Viscoli as a “partner-in-crime” with Michael Bloomberg, former mayor of New York City. I wasn’t aware that it is a “crime” to oppose the National Rifle Association and its scatological beliefs about guns in America.

New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence has no affiliation whatsoever with Bloomberg, and we have never received a cent from his group. Our funding comes from New Mexico residents and businesses. We are a grass-roots organization of New Mexicans who formed after the massacre at Newtown’s Sandy Hook Elementary School on Dec. 14, 2012, to say “enough is enough.”

Apparently, the National Rifle Association doesn’t agree, because it blatantly purchases the loyalty of politicians in both state and federal governments to shut down every measure designed to improve the safety of all American citizens from guns. No one is trying to prevent you from hunting or firing off rounds at a shooting range, but the mass shootings continue at an alarming pace, especially in schools, places of worship and events where people are enjoying entertainment.

Fort appears to be somewhat paranoid about the progress made by New Mexicans who are “just trying to protect ourselves” from people who should never have access to weapons. Our domestic violence bill to remove guns from persons accused of domestic violence against their partners and children passed both houses with bipartisan support, 43-22 in the House and 25-15 in the Senate, but the governor vetoed the bill. We will reintroduce this bill with a new governor in the near future.

Marion Jackson is a board member of New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence and lives in Santa Fe.