Gun violence is killing children! What do obstructionist Republicans not "get"?

We must ensure the safety of our children: Protect them from gun violence❗  Republicans block all efforts to create laws to protect the public from the public health danger caused by gun violence, while children are the victims of the GOP inaction!

Echo opinion essay published in the Sante Fe New Mexican newspaper:

This is an essential issue. Obviously, it weighs heavily on the hearts of all families. The tragic incidents of children ages 11 and 5 years old killed due to gun violence, road rage and drive-by shootings, sparked fear and anger among parents. As fathers raising children in New Mexico, we share in the outrage that our children face a constant risk of experiencing gun violence.

In response, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has taken action. She declared a public health crisis and immediately implemented emergency directives. While attention initially focused on the temporary restriction of carrying firearms in public places, the emergency order and subsequent amendment also included over a dozen directives, including preventive measures. Monthly inspections of firearms dealers in the state and 24-hour treatment placement for individuals needing drug and alcohol treatment were included in the emergency order.

Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors, a nonprofit dedicated to family well-being and early childhood development with a focus on Hispanic families, applauds the governor and policymakers for immediately responding to protecting families and children.

The 2022, National Latino Families Report, a survey of 1,300 Hispanic families in collaboration with Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors, BSP Research and UnidosUS revealed that gun violence ranked among top concerns for Hispanic families, including those in New Mexico.

A staggering 71% of Hispanic families in New Mexico expressed deep concern about the possibility of their child becoming a victim of a mass shooting at some point in their life. The survey also showed 79% of families strongly believed schools across the state should have locked doors and cameras to prevent violence on school grounds.

Families are calling for action. Stricter gun control laws, improved background checks and enhanced mental health support systems are among the solutions being sought. In fact, 83% of Hispanic families surveyed in New Mexico strongly agree that gun-sale laws in their state should be stricter, while 85% believe in mandatory universal background checks for all firearm sales.

Lujan Grisham’s public health order — even though she modified it and it is facing legal scrutiny — is a step in the right direction. It aligns with the attitudes of Hispanic families surveyed, with 51% disagreeing that the Second Amendment guarantees all people should be able to own firearms without restrictions and 77% strongly supporting a 10-day waiting period for firearm purchases.

As concerned and responsible community members, we must engage in conversations about ending gun violence. Every child deserves a future free from the threat of gun violence. We will find resolve where families and communities come together to demand change❗, because the safety and well-being of our children depend on our actions to end the status quo.

Adrián Pedroza is the executive director of Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors, and Gabriel Sanchez is vice president of research for BSP Research.