Commentary: Mr. Biad’s 7/21 column (Las Cruces Sun News) was most disingenuous. There are facts missing - and statements both untrue and misleading. Conservative’s are not in the process? They have been very involved in the process. Does that mean they must always win?
Treasury debt and thwarting Obama is not germaine to the Las Cruces discussion for our purposes. As for Las Cruces reality and Biad reality - apparently, "never the twain shall meet.”
So liberals are “bold?” Local conservatives aren’t? Let’s see…. Organ Mountains national designation disagreement? Minimum Wage raise nastiness, including from City Council members? Councilor recall launched on policy disagreements? Abortion question and reproductive rights? -Such is religion over the Constitution. Now, fixing flawed background checks? Conservatives were and are very involved in the process not silent, er “buffaloed". Do they lack interest in real policy discussions or just prefer 'my way or the highway.'
Some edification on “land grabs.” The first National Park was declared in 1864. The Antiquities Act as amended authorizing national parks was passed in 1906. President Teddy Roosevelt, a Republican with vision and sense, authorized over 150 national parks before 1909 now over 350. Now we understand there are movements to return national parks to the States. Many have noted how such taking is problematic in different ways (e.g, Fortune,OccupyDemocrats.org, NCPA.org). Under heavy corporate pressure States would sell the parks off for fracking, private ranching, mining and development. Taking “public” out of "public goods" is not an American way.
Hunters and ranchers afraid of “gun control” in Las Cruces? NRA rote talking. Try reading the resolution - Nothing on gun control... There are many hunters and ranchers who believe in gun sense - not fear. I do. I’ve sat in an ICU for two days praying for my son’s friend’s life after he was shot by the deranged husband of a housekeeper. Many of my immediate families - and friends - are hunters and/or keep guns. Some are NRA members who disagree with its National... Don Macalady, member of "Hunters against Gun Violence" stated, "As a hunter and someone who has owned guns since I was a young boy, I believe that common sense gun legislation makes us all safer. Background checks prevent criminals and other dangerous people from getting guns.” (Colorado Pols) He is not alone.
We all respect the Second Amendment, but it is not unlimited (Harvard/Fordham Law Reviews, Justice Scalia). The next obvious steps are a doing more to help protect our communities and increase responsibility. We all want our children to be able to walk to the park or go to the movies safely, and keeping guns out of dangerous hands.
There’s a better way. A majority of New Mexicans and other adults, including gun owners, support common sense gun regulation such as background checks, bans on assault weapons, and bans on high-capacity magazines. "95% of adults including 75%+ of republicans want better background checks. 90% of adults with a gun in the home approve of laws to prevent the purchase of guns by the mentally ill, and 60% approve of a federal database to track gun sales.” (Pew and Quinnipiac Research). Currently New Mexico has one of the highest rates of law enforcement officer homicides by gun and least restrictive statutes (Gun Laws Enforcement).
Mr Biad, you finish with “…we can begin, respectfully, to have a full, fair debate in the arena of ideas…”. I agree with the need. However, two years+ of strong conservative rancor are not respectable debate. Show us yes/no is not the answer.