On Tuesday, the Doña Ana County Commission rejected an endorsement of a so-called “Red Flag” law, a gun safety measure before the New Mexico State Legislature.
The vote was 3 to 2 against endorsing the bill. Commissioners Lynn Ellins, Isabella Solis, and Ramon Gonzalez voted “no,” while Commissioners Shannon Reynolds and Manuel Sanchez supported the measure.
The bill would enact a law allowing extreme risk protection orders in the state.
Extreme risk protection orders, otherwise known as Red Flag Laws, set up a process to allow temporary removal of firearms from people deemed a risk to themselves or others.
As of late 2019, 17 states and the District of Columbia had enacted these laws.
A poll conducted by Global Strategy Group late last year on behalf of Everytown for Gun Safety found 85 percent of people surveyed support the laws, including 78 percent of gun owners.
You might not have guessed that had you attended the Doña Ana County Commission meeting, where by a show of hands, most came to ask the Commission not to support the safety measure. Some, who identified themselves as gun owners, expressed fears of the proposed law, including Gary Salazar.
“The judge can one-sidedly decide that he’s going to order my firearms taken away from me and I must go ahead and say, yes, they can take them. Because officers are going to come and they’re forcibly going to take them. And if I resist, they’re going to shoot me. Now this isn’t very fair, because there’s no due process. I don’t get to tell you my side until later on,” said Salazar.
Advocates say the laws are essential to help prevent the most common gun-related tragedy, suicides, which represent about 60% of firearms deaths.
And a 2018 study in Psychiatric Services found after the passage of extreme risk protection laws in Indiana and Connecticut, gun-related suicides fell significantly: 7.5% in the 10 years after Indiana enacted its law, along with 13.7% in Connecticut.
Eileen VanWie, Co-President of the League of Women Voters of Southern New Mexico, supports the Red Flag Law proposal.
“The goal after all is to decrease the number of deaths by guns. And I hope that we can all agree on that goal. Both sides can agree that we want to decrease the number of deaths by gun violence in our state. New Mexico has one of the highest rates of deaths by firearms and what we’re doing right now does not seem to be working. And in other states, the red flag laws have shown some decrease in deaths by firearms, and that would be the goal. I know we also need mental health support and we need care for addictions to drugs and alcohol. The schools need to do more to teach social and emotional learning. But this can help to stop…even if it only stops one death, it would be worth it. And as you mentioned, there is a court process. An individual can’t just take a gun away from somebody else. There needs to be evidence and it needs to go before a court to make decisions. So I do support this law that you want to support as well, “ said VanWie.
Advocates say extreme risk protection laws not only have the potential to prevent suicides, but also could help prevent mass shootings. An Everytown for Gun Safety analysis of mass shootings from 2009 to 2018 shows that potential. It revealed, in 54 percent of incidents, the shooter exhibited warning signs that they posed a risk to themselves or others before the shooting.
Rita Triviz told the commission she did not intend to speak at the meeting. But she came forward and reminded them the potential to prevent tragedy hits very close to home in our community, after last summer’s mass shooting at an El Paso Walmart where 22 people died. The mother of Patrick Crusius, the alleged shooter, warned Allen, Texas police she was concerned about her son having a firearm. While police say the mother did not explicitly say Crusius was a risk to himself or others, she was concerned about his ability to have an AK-style weapon due to his age, maturity level and lack of experience.
“Thank you for supporting this. A bill that might have changed the trajectory of the shooter that went to Walmart to aim at people who look just like me. His mother called the police. Who knows what would have happened had there been a red flag law? Maybe no difference. The Parkland shooter, his biological mother and foster mother both raised concerns. Red flags. Due process is embedded in this legislation. Please support it and thank you very much,” said Triviz.
While opponents and supporters of the law disagree strongly on many issues related to gun safety, there may be agreement on one matter. Many opponents of the red flag law, including Dave Gallus, called for more mental health care services in the community.
“We have a mental health facility, the triage center, that was paid for, a building. Why is that not in use? Why are we not putting our time, efforts, and money into mental health issues? Because these people have mental health issues. Because these people have mental health issues. What are you going to do? Take away knives, cars, baseball bats, rocks? Anything can be used as a lethal weapon against someone. Not just guns. Guns is a protection for law-abiding citizens like myself,” said Gallus .
Each year, more than 36 thousand Americans die from gun violence, with more than 22,000 killing themselves. Again, suicides represent 60% of firearms deaths.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, you may contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24/7.
The number is 1-800-273-TALK (8255). More information is available at suicidepreventionlifeline.org .