Las Cruces Community Radio 101.5 FM
  • Home
  • Donate
  • Listen
  • Schedule
    • Programs
  • Archives
  • Underwrite
  • Merch
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Walt Rubel Commentary: Gun ban must be extended to local boards

11/10/2021

 
​Last week, the New Mexico Legislature finally passed a rule banning guns in the state Capitol building. Now, they need to provide that same common-sense protection for local school boards and city councils.
The Legislative Council Committee, which includes leaders from both parties and chambers and meets each month when the Legislature is not in session, passed the new rule on an 8-5 vote, with all Republicans in opposition.

Past attempts to ban firearms at the Roundhouse through legislation have failed, following contentious committee hearings that always included people providing public input with rifles slung over their shoulders and pistols strapped to their hips. Not everyone spoke. Some just sat in the committee room glaring menacingly at anyone from the other side, while gently stroking their guns.

“There are places where firearms just shouldn’t be part of the process, and they shouldn’t be part of free speech. And the Roundhouse is one of them,” Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, told the Associated Press. 

I agree, but so is City Hall.

In 2018, the Las Cruces City Council had to move a work session to a building other than City Hall in order to have a discussion about guns without having one side armed to the teeth.

An earlier meeting to consider a proposed statement in support of a ban on semi-automatic gun sales attracted well-armed opponents who made their presence known both inside the meeting and outside the building. Councilor Yvonne Flores said she felt intimidated by a man in the front row holding an AR-15 rifle, who made a rude gesture to her following one of her comments.

Which, of course, was exactly what the man in the front row had intended. It was an obvious attempt to stifle debate through unspoken threats of violence. And it worked. The City Council tabled the issue.  

Mayor Ken Miyagishima said that, while guns are prohibited in all federal buildings, and will now also be banned in the Roundhouse, local governments do not have the authority to restrict weapons in their buildings.

Sen. George Munoz, D-Gallup, who is one of the most conservative Democrats in the Senate, said new threats, such as those following the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, have forced the Legislature to reconsider its traditionally permissive attitude toward guns.

“It is the way the world is making us do things now,” he explained. Has he not seen what is going on at school board meetings all over the country?

I moved to New Mexico shortly after the 9/11 attacks, when security was being beefed up everywhere. Big, cement planters were installed all around the perimeter of the Roundhouse to prevent anybody from being able to drive a truck up to it.

Going through metal detectors and having our bags checked became a way of life anytime we entered any crowded space. And so, I was slack-jawed the first time I saw a guy with a gun on his hip waltz past the State Police officer stationed at the entrance of the Roundhouse. Code of the West, I was told.

Republicans argued that carrying weapons in the Roundhouse was a form of free expression, which is true. But it was an expression wrapped in threat. The new rule will allow more people to express their opinions without fear, and will ultimately strengthen our democracy at the state level. The same must now be done at the local level.



Walter Rubel can be reached at waltrubel@gmail.com  
Listen to the audio version.

Comments are closed.

    Shows

    All
    All About Books
    Animal Affairs
    Cafe Con Leche
    Chicken Pot Pie
    Commentaries
    Coronavirus Update
    Delving In
    Earth Matters
    Eye On Government
    Just Community
    La Politica New Mexico
    Live From The Market
    Live True
    Shades Of The Blues
    Speak Up Las Cruces
    Special Broadcasts
    Take On Faith
    The Sunday Show
    Think Again
    This Week In Las Cruces

    Music Shows

    Click here to find archived episodes of many of our music programs on Mixcloud.

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    May 2018

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly