Opinion

Why NM’s crime crisis won’t end under ‘progressive’ rule

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Elections have consequences. Unfortunately, so-called “progressive” Democrats continue to hold a commanding majority in our state’s House of Representatives and Senate. Representation from both sides of the aisle and diversity of thought are pillars of a functioning and balanced government, but our reality in New Mexico is of one-party rule. This stranglehold on our institutions continues to halt progress and miss the mark when it comes to truly addressing our state’s out-of-control crime rate. 

Earlier this year, my fellow Senate Republicans collaborated across the aisle with Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham during her special legislative session to make strides in addressing public safety. Included were measures to expand criminal competency protocols and increase penalties for felons in possession of firearms, distributing fentanyl, and murdering law enforcement officers. We also introduced proposals to secure our open southern border, an issue New Mexicans and Americans at large support, in order to combat the cartel’s trafficking of drugs, humans, and contraband. An additional measure we introduced would have strengthened our state’s lackluster Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) statute in order to pursue organized criminal activity more effectively and expand the capabilities of prosecutors, specifically, expanding human trafficking sentencing. This measure, along with several of the aforementioned proposals were created with and supported by District Attorneys and law enforcement leaders from around the state and from both sides of the aisle. 

Unfortunately, as we all know, each and every one of these measures never saw the light of day. Progressive Democrat lawmakers killed the Governor’s Special Session focused on public safety, ending the session almost immediately and refusing to hear ANY legislation addressing crime and safety.

I attended this summer’s special legislative session to witness firsthand how our elected officials would address the crime epidemic my family experiences in Albuquerque every day. I was disappointed, to say the least. Make no mistake, as the only Republican Senator from Albuquerque, I will uphold my responsibility to work toward making our community a safer place for families to live and thrive. 

These proposed measures are commonsense and practical. They hold criminals accountable, deter criminal activity, and strengthen our law enforcement. The progressive wing of the Democrat party, which has immense influence and power in our state’s legislature, disagrees. They would rather stall these proposals and instead push an entirely different ideological agenda. It was recently announced that Senate Democrats plan to introduce a “crime package” that narrowly focuses on expanding behavioral health programs. This somehow will reduce the level of violence we see every day from juveniles, repeat offenders, and gangs in our state. 

While we as Republicans remain optimistic and plan to re-introduce several of these comprehensive solutions, progressive Democrat lawmakers will most likely reject each of these proposals and further miss the mark on addressing our crime crisis. As a result, New Mexico families would continue to suffer from our crime crisis in communities throughout our state. 

Elections have consequences. Our communities will not become safer under the continued leadership of radical progressives. We will fight in Santa Fe, but the real fight is on the ground with grassroots organizing in key communities to continue to expand the realignment of the Republican Party in New Mexico.

Nicole Toiassen is the senator-elect for New Mexico’s 21st state Senate District.

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When public officials go rogue: NM Dem’s shady move against rally

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In a blatant misuse of power, New Mexico State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard made the decision to refuse the Trump campaign’s use of a parking lot for their rally that was held on Halloween in Albuquerque. By denying access to an area that falls within the bounds of the campaign’s legally established lease from Isleta, Garcia Richard appears to be deliberately attempting to disrupt the political process. This brazen maneuver not only disregards the principles of free speech and assembly but also sets a disturbing precedent for how public office can be wielded against those with opposing political views.

The purpose of a rally is to provide a platform for supporters and those interested in learning more about a candidate’s positions. It’s an opportunity for individuals to come together in support of their beliefs and values. For the commissioner to deny the Trump campaign access to the parking lot—a seemingly trivial part of the rally setup—signals a broader attempt to suppress political expression. Such actions are a stark violation of the American principles that allow citizens to freely express their political affiliations, regardless of partisan lines. The campaign’s lease, which extends to the parking lot, reflects a mutual understanding and right to the space. By holding the lot “hostage,” as some have described, Garcia Richard is leveraging her power in a way that appears both petty and antithetical to her duty as a public servant.

Public offices, especially one as influential as the State Land Office, are not meant to be vehicles for personal biases. They are established to serve all citizens fairly and impartially. Yet, Garcia Richard’s refusal to honor the lease agreement demonstrates a troubling trend: the erosion of neutrality in government roles, where officials prioritize partisan agendas over their constitutional oath. Instead of fostering an environment where all New Mexicans can express their political views, the State Land Office is alienating a segment of the population and attempting to dictate which voices get a platform.

This situation also highlights a broader issue in contemporary politics—using government influence to silence opposition. No public official should feel emboldened to stifle free speech and expression, yet Garcia Richard’s actions here suggest a willingness to do exactly that. This is not merely a local issue; it reflects a growing problem within American governance. When officials refuse to uphold the rights of individuals based on political disagreements, they abandon the foundational principle of representing all citizens fairly.

What New Mexico’s Republican voters—and, frankly, all Americans—deserve is a government that will respect and protect the rights of all political participants. The State Land Office’s role is to manage public lands responsibly, not to suppress lawful political expression. Commissioner Garcia Richard must be held accountable for her actions in the name of fair governance, and it is crucial for all New Mexicans, regardless of party, to call out this blatant abuse of power.

Michael Perry is a county commissioner in Chaves County, representing District 5

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Gov. Lujan Grisham cares more about abortion than abused children

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The safety and well-being of our children are more important to me than being “politically correct” or whatever negative feedback my words here will bring about.

Unfortunately, the opposite is the case for Governor Lujan Grisham. Her administration is more interested in placating their political party than advocating for and protecting the neglected and abused children in our state. Regardless of your personal views on this sensitive subject, no one can deny that New Mexico is the worst state to be in for disadvantaged children. We have the worst child well-being rating in the nation in large part due to the administrative failures of the Children, Youth, and Families Department (CYFD). 

Earlier this month, the Governor celebrated the new construction of a $10 million abortion clinic in Las Cruces primarily targeted at Texas mothers. That same week, the Albuquerque Journal reported the shocking cost of  CYFD’s wrongful death lawsuit settlement payouts. Your tax dollars have paid out $21 million to families of children harmed or killed under the department’s watch in the last three years. This has been an exponential increase over recent years, and yet, no solutions have been supported to allow for true departmental reform.

Consider the sum of those amounts—that is, $31 million of your tax dollars being spent to advance the political agenda of our Governor while also obscuring her failures while in office. The people of our state, and particularly our at-risk kids, cannot afford to spend another dime protecting the legacy of this administration for her to get a promotion at the end of her term. Let me be clear: this is a leadership failure. The hardworking employees at CYFD have tough and oftentimes thankless jobs; it is not their fault the department they work for has a 34% vacancy rate, it’s not their fault children in the system are still sleeping in office buildings, and it’s also not their fault that employees are overworked and underpaid. These sad realities are the result of mismanagement and a lack of care from the Governor and her executive staff. 

Regardless of your political affiliation or personal beliefs, each and every New Mexican, especially New Mexican parents, should be ashamed of our leadership, our failed track record, and our continual downward path as a state when it comes to protecting our vulnerable and neglected children. 

New Mexican’s “reproductive health” rights are some of the most protected, unrestricted, and available in the nation. Should our focus really be in this direction? The environment we provide for our children is the worst in the nation. Yet, in the decade I have been in the Roundhouse, all we have seen are empty promises of reform. Our case workers are doing all they can, but without support from the administration, they will continue to run up against a brick wall and burn out quickly.

We must get serious about reform. New Mexico is again ranked the worst in the country according to the thorough “Kids Count” research project provided by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. We are failing our children and at the same time prioritizing all the wrong things; with neglected and vulnerable children being the ones who pay the price. 

Enough is enough, we must hold our elected officials accountable. The statistics and balance sheets don’t lie, the Governor and Democratic majorities in the State Legislature have (much like our public school students) failed. Keep this in mind this November. I hope, for the sake of our children, our state heads in a different direction.

State Sen. David Gallegos represents New Mexico Senate District 51 in the Legislature, previously serving in the New Mexico House of Representatives. He is also a school board member for Eunice Public Schools.

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Life Fought For: Inspired by God’s many circumstances

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Fires burning,

Rains falling in rapidness

Men and women working in prayers, as well as in the physical, To help against many elements that causes destruction.

Yet there is One who has His reasons.

For this time in these few seasons.

Who holds it all and provides through many.

It’s not always understood why many things tend to be.

But knowing that God loves us despite;

With all Three, Three in One,

God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit, All Three working as One.

To save lives through men and women with His love.

May love be the driving force that motivates all of us.

To fight against the destruction that is seen recently.

Even when we do not understand.

For Love is really the essence of life.

So fight in love and fight for life.

A Christian poem by Chere Hardy of Alamogordo, New Mexico.

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Night Sky: Inspired by God’s many circumstances

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The moon in the sky, The stars shine bright.

As the clouds drift by,

With the wind ever so light.

Thank You, Lord,

For it all.

In worship and praise,

To Your Name on High!

With Your love all-consuming,

Evermore with our devotion to Thee.

You deserve our love, our devotion, our all in all.

For Your beauty forever will be.

Love everlasting,

That’s what all souls seek.

And that is You, and Who You Are, Forevermore will be.

A Love that endures,

The many tests of times.

For it’s Your Love that gave us His all.

So that we can hear that sweet, gentle call.

Thank You, Lord, for the moon and the stars,

As the clouds drift on by.

A Christian poem by Chere Hardy of Alamogordo, New Mexico.

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Pure as Snow: Inspired by God’s many circumstances

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Snow falls and covers the ground in whiteness.

Clean and pure, snow comes from the clouds of the heavens.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is pure as snow.

He descended from the heavens to the earth, To live among sinners stained with sin.

As He walked the earth, His love was shown, was given, To sinners such as you and I.

He did what He did even though He didn’t sin at all.

Pure and Holy was how He is to be.

But one day, He gave His life to death,

Becoming stained with sin as the veil was torn.

Dirty with the wickedness of all mankind.

He stood in the gap between our death to eternal life.

The Father, the Creator, the Judge, pardons us because of His Son.

With His Son Who Rose from the dead, we too can become pure as snow,

In God’s sight, under the blood of Christ, That washes our sins away to His delight.

A Christian poem by Chere Hardy of Alamogordo, New Mexico.

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Why should I love? Inspired by God’s many circumstances

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Why should I love?

Especially when people are so ugly within.

Why should I care?

Especially when no one seems to care.

Why should I bother with being kind,

Especially when someone doesn’t want to be one inch compassionate?

Because of God and only God!

That’s why!

God is pure and divine love!

And His Only Son was treated cruelly.

So if He can do it, it’s possible, right?

But it gets so hard at times, when people are just themselves at times.

But God wants people, His people, to keep doing our best for His glory.

A Christian poem by Chere Hardy of Alamogordo, New Mexico.

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Why I am no longer a Democrat

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Born and raised in New Mexico, like many of you, I grew up in a traditional household where values like hard work, family, humility, and integrity were deeply ingrained. These principles passed down from generation to generation, have shaped who I am today, all with the endless support and guidance from my wife.

My wife and I navigated challenges through 28 years as small business owners to become successful in business. Our fundamental values and principles have guided us through many difficult times and plenty of wonderful times.

In my upbringing, voting Democrat was a cultural norm, seen as synonymous with representing Hispanic interests and aiding the less fortunate. However, over time, it’s become clear that the Democratic Party has shifted away from these traditional values.

The rise of radical progressivism within the party threatens beliefs in the American Dream, faith, family, and personal accountability.

Seeing the disconnect between my values and the direction of the Democratic Party, I made the decision to run for State Senate, aiming to represent my community’s true interests. Issues like crime, economic instability, education, border security and government overreach need addressing.

For the first time, I found alignment with the Republican Party and sought to bring positive change to District 10.

I invite those who share similar experiences and beliefs to join me in this endeavor. Our community faces challenges, but together, we can make a difference for our children and future generations.

Rudy B. Mora is a Republican running for New Mexico Senate District 10.

Opinions expressed by Piñon Post contributors do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of the publication or its editorial staff. Submit an op-ed to the Piñon Post at news@pinonpost.com.

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Restricting our rights will not solve the crime problem

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The 7-day waiting period between the actual sale of a firearm and the transfer of that firearm to the buyer is now law here in New Mexico.  HB 129, sponsored by the very progressive Democrats, was bitterly opposed by myself and all of the Republican members of the New Mexico House as another assault on 2nd Amendment rights. This legislation mandates the waiting period for all firearm purchasers with just a few exceptions. 

The exceptions include federal firearm license holders, holders of valid concealed carry licenses, law enforcement agencies, and law officer-to-law officer transfers. What is interesting is that law enforcement officers including local police and sheriffs or deputies are still subject to the waiting period. This is absolutely nuts. Here we have individuals already entrusted to carry a sidearm openly, even into the gun store, but make them wait a week before they can take their new purchase home. This makes absolutely NO sense. 

All of the firearm legislation passed in the last few sessions of the legislature, including “Red Flag,” has done nothing to reduce the level of criminal activity or firearm violence in the state. In fact, we are actually moving in the other direction, as evidenced by the Governor’s recent emergency orders in Albuquerque. These orders were such an overreach that the Republicans in the legislature signed a letter advocating for an extraordinary session to discuss these policies. This call went absolutely nowhere as it needed significant support from the Democrat side of the aisle, which was not forthcoming.

New Mexico’s rate of firearm violence was relatively stable and closely matched the national average until just a few years ago. It was in 2014 that the rate of gun violence occurrences per 100,000 population broke into a sharp upward spike. It’s important to note that the upward spike continues to this day; it’s now almost twice the national average, and nothing that the legislature has done in the intervening years has impacted that trajectory.

So, what happened in 2014? That was the year that the Albuquerque police department signed a ‘consent decree’ with the Federal Justice Department as a consequence of the Federal investigation into the death of a homeless man during a confrontation with APD. One could make a strong case that this decree caused the demoralization of that police department and their activities to become more timid. Today, that department is hundreds of officers short with little effort going into broken window policing, a method of active enforcement that tries to address problems early so as to avoid the opportunity for escalation.

The bottom line here is that restricting sheriff department personnel or, for that matter, any law enforcement personnel from the immediate acquisition of a firearm will have absolutely NO impact on firearm violence in this state. These officers are NOT the problem but rather the solution. What we need is for these folks to get more support to arrest criminals and a justice system willing to keep them in jail. It’s long past time for the folks in Santa Fe to recognize that liberal public policy, not law enforcement officers, is the root cause of our problems.  We need safety and security, not banning our rights for our law-abiding citizens. 

State Rep. Larry Scott represents District 62 in Lea County, serving since 2015.

Opinions expressed by Piñon Post contributors do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of the publication or its editorial staff. Submit an op-ed to the Piñon Post at news@pinonpost.com.

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A right delayed is a right denied

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The mandatory 7-day waiting period to purchase a firearm is now in effect in New Mexico.

As a result, law-abiding citizens can no longer walk into a store, purchase the firearm of their choice, pass a federal background check, and leave with that firearm to defend themselves and their families. The National Rifle Association has filed suit to halt the law, but there is no guarantee we will have any relief in the short term.

Careful observers of the 2024 session will remember that under the guise of “addressing crime” and “reducing suicides,” radical Democrats in Santa Fe rammed this misguided measure through the House and Senate, and quickly sent it to the Governor’s desk for her signature. Together with my Republican colleagues, I relentlessly fought this unconstitutional waiting period in committees and during floor debates, but to no avail. The Governor and progressive Democrats made no room for reason or logic in their ongoing effort to chip away at our Second Amendment rights, and this bill is likely just the beginning.

Not only are there significant constitutional questions with this law, but the legislative process itself exposed the lunacy and ignorance of its sponsors and supporters. The bill began with a 14-business-day waiting period before being amended to calendar days. It was then amended to 7 business days, before landing at 7 calendar days. The proposal changed quickly and with no resistance from the Democrats because even they knew there was no substantial evidence to support their claims. So let’s call this out for what it is—an attack on law-abiding citizens’ rights to keep and bear arms. It’s a statement from those in power that “we are in control and there’s nothing you can do about it.” Fortunately for us, that is not the case. 

Republicans and traditional Democrats alike understand the Constitution of the United States. We may not all be lawyers, but we can read. I can speak on behalf of my Republican colleagues in the Legislature when I say that the fight to protect our rights is never going to end.

I applaud and stand in support of the National Rifle Association’s legal challenge to this newly enacted law. My message to the Governor and radical progressive legislators is this: Our right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. Rest assured, voters will remember this attack on their right to protect themselves when they visit the voting booths in November. To paraphrase Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “a right delayed is a right denied.”

New Mexico State Sen. Steven McCutcheon II serves the 42nd District, which encompasses Chaves, Eddy, and Lea Counties.

Opinions expressed by Piñon Post contributors do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of the publication or its editorial staff. Submit an op-ed to the Piñon Post at news@pinonpost.com.

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