Violence can’t be fixed by misguided gun bans
When a governor engages in political propaganda via a news conference, utilizing her executive bully pulpit to discuss violating her oath of office to protect and defend the United States and New Mexico Constitutions, while also using tragedies to support her unconstitutional decisions, it warrants a bold response from New Mexicans and an effective strategy to expose her alarming agenda.
The recent false and misleading statements by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham about her desire to ban “assault weapons” demand such an immediate response.
It is important to remember the Second Amendment was designed as a safeguard for individual rights and freedom. Many Americans view their right to bear arms as a crucial component of their personal freedom and a means of self-defense. It’s a right that’s deeply intertwined with our nation’s history and identity.
Regarding the governor’s proposal to ban what she inaccurately labels as “assault weapons” such as AR-15s, it’s crucial to note these modern sporting rifles are semi-automatic, like many functional handguns, and have no relationship to what she describes as a fully automatic military-grade weapon. Even more disturbing are her flawed claims that banning these commonly owned models will absolutely address the root causes of crime. Further, the governor fails to mention that this ban infringes upon the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens to purchase and own firearms for legitimate purposes such as self-defense, hunting or sport shooting.
The governor, like so many liberal/progressive politicians across the nation, peddles these legislative proposals in the wake of gun-related tragedies, mostly carried out by career criminals or individuals with known mental illness and/or substance-use problems. This type of politically motivated rhetoric has been a common theme among Democratic leaders, but the issue of violent crime is left unsolved because their answer to the problem lacks common sense and pragmatism.
Instead of restricting law-abiding citizens, we should discuss and debate other measures that can help reduce crime while respecting our Second Amendment rights. These might include improving mental health services, bolstering community policing, bail reform, strengthening penalties for the criminal misuse of firearms or enhancing gun-safety education.
We need to focus on the individual and provide fixes to societal flaws that lead to violence, instead of the ill-defined belief of fixing society through more mandates and unnecessary laws that criminals never obey.
Violence, whether with a gun or otherwise, is a complex issue which deserves our full attention and thoughtful discussion. Evil will always try to find a way to carry out its plan, but if government would attack it at its core with sensible legislation that treats criminals like criminals, enhances harsher penalties for crimes involving a firearm and increases investments in mental health infrastructure, we can finally end the political theater and work toward saving lives while protecting the rights of law-abiding Americans.
It is important to remember the Second Amendment was designed as a safeguard for individual rights and freedom.