New Mexico does not have a gun safe storage statute in law.

One year ago, a thirteen-year-old boy by the name of Bennie Hargrove was shot during lunch time on the grounds of Washington Middle School by another student who had access to his parents’ handgun. The gun was stored in a manner that the shooter could access it easily.

Bennie saw the shooter as a bully who was harassing and taking advantage of another student. Bennie decided to take on the role of peacekeeper and carry out the practices of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by utilizing non-violence practices to help resolve a dispute. Instead, Bennie ended up losing his life to violence.

New Mexico does not have a gun safe storage statute in law. Last year, I took on the task of trying to get a gun safety act passed and in law in New Mexico by introducing House Bill 9 during the 2022 legislative session. The bill required gun owners to keep their guns securely stored when they are not in close proximity to their firearms. If the owner of the firearm failed to do so, they would be subject to penalties. Those penalties included being charged with a misdemeanor if the unsecured firearm was brandished in public causing fear and mayhem in a public or private location, but no one was killed. The penalty increases to a fourth-degree felony if the firearm was used to cause great bodily harm or death to another person.       

What happened to the students who witnessed the horrific shooting death of Bennie Hargrove? Many of them are experiencing mental and emotional trauma from having observed the incident. Accordingly, I introduced House Memorial 43 to create a Task Force to focus on the need to address the mental health and mental wellness of our students, not only if they witness horrific incidents, but also because many of our youth lost family members or were affected by illness and economic hardships in their households during the recent COVID pandemic.

Wellness rooms are a proactive approach to supporting students’ well-being. These rooms will give students a safe space on campus to go when they are experiencing emotional difficulties, instead of simply going home for the day – or choosing not to attend school at all. Studies have repeatedly found a direct relationship between a student’s mental health and academic achievement. Addressing this need is critical for both students’ personal wellness and their education.

I am asking every person to commit to joining me in doing everything you can to help our children stay safe and to address the issue of their mental health and mental wellness. Let’s get a gun safe storage act passed in New Mexico and get mental health and mental wellness rooms in every middle and high school in New Mexico. Remember, children are our future. Let’s help our children by supporting the legislative priorities described above.