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Las Cruces City Council Approves Gun Control Resolution

 Las Cruces City Council passed a resolution urging the State Legislature to pass legislation requiring comprehensive background checks for all gun sales in New Mexico by a vote of 5 to 1 with one abstaining.

Many people packed the Council Chambers for the debate on gun legislation. Mayor Ken Miyagishima brought forward the resolution for what he called “common sense gun laws” for comprehensive background checks for all gun sales in New Mexico.

“If you can use technology on your side to determine whether or not a person is a convicted felon,” Miyagishima said. “Or someone who is not allowed to have a weapon, you can use technology to decipher that in less than two minutes that’s common sense.”

The majority of people who spoke at the meeting were against the resolution, including law enforcement officer Riley Mayer.

“They’re deeming it’s going to be just a common sense measure,” Mayer said. “But, the scope of that extends past that, and it’s also the beginning of a slippery slope that leads towards reckless and dangerous legislation which is the next step, so if we can nip it in the but here that’s the best thing to do.”

The resolution does not enact any laws at the city because New Mexico State Law does not allow local government to enact firearms restrictions, like those that exist in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington D.C.

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Anna Ransom, the local volunteer leader for Las Cruces Mom’s Demand Action, says the resolution is a good first step.

“We’ve realized through research, through experience,” Ransom said. “That universal background checks are the single most effective way to prevent gun violence, and we really applaud our local city council for taking a stand for making their opinion known trying to keep our city safe.”

City Councilor Greg Smith abstained from the vote because he wanted to table the vote to hold a work session to discuss options to prevent gun violence locally before passing the resolution.

City Councilor Ceil Levatino was the only vote against the resolution because she didn’t think it would be effective.

“It doesn’t solve the problem,” Levatino said. “Criminals are criminals for a reason, they don’t follow the law, their not going to go to gun shows, their not going to go to gun shops because they know what’s going to happen if they go in there. What happened in my neighborhood two weeks ago is a perfect example someone broke into our neighbors house and stole guns the guy was arrested in our backyard. He wasn’t going to go to a gun show to get his guns. It’s a meaningless piece of resolution.”

The resolution included an amendment that the legislation should not include requiring background checks for guns passed between family members. 

Samantha Sonner was a multimedia reporter for KRWG- TV/FM.