Las Cruces City Council to vote on gun control resolution

The Las Cruces City Council will vote on a resolution on Monday that would urge the legislature and the governor to pass stricter gun laws.

The resolution, “to better ensure the safety of students in Las Cruces schools,” will be proposed by Greg Smith, city councilman for district 2.

“I don’t agree with it,” said Justin Stephenson, a gun advocate in Las Cruces. “I don’t think harsher gun laws are going to fix any sort of problem.”

The resolution is in response to threats in Las Cruces schools and around the country, according to the wording of the document. It requests that the New Mexico legislature and the governor “act to better secure the safety and education of young people by restricting the sale and possession of semi-automatic weapons.”

“It’s an excellent idea,” said Kitty Walker, a Las Cruces resident. “We all know that guns in the hands of dangerous people or careless people result in death.”

“A good guy with a gun is always going to stop a bad guy with a gun,” Stephenson said.

ABC-7 could not reach Smith ahead of the vote, but Mayor Ken Miyagishima released a statement that read in part:

“This is being done in response to those shootings that are happening all over the United States at our public schools. Personally, I would support the same type of requirements that are currently needed to have an automatic rifle, such as… extensive background checks before private citizens may own them.”

ABC-7 will have complete coverage of the city council meeting on Monday.