A bill that would require universal background checks for almost all gun sales is a signature away from becoming law in New Mexico.
More than two-dozen sheriffs signed a letter opposing it, but the Albuquerque Police Department鈥檚 on board.
APD spokesman Gilbert Gallegos said police leaders have been advocating for stronger gun control measures since last year鈥檚 legislative session.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 want to do anything to take away from responsible, law-abiding gun owners,鈥� he said. 鈥淎t the same time, we do feel like it鈥檚 a public health crisis right now and we want to do something to address gun-related violence.鈥�
Background checks are a tool for law enforcement. and help us keep communities safe from gun violence.
— Albuquerque Police Department (@ABQPOLICE)
Gallegos said 69 percent of the homicides APD handled last year involved a firearm and that laws like this could be another tool for officers.
A bunch of New Mexico sheriffs have said they won鈥檛 enforce it. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham , saying 鈥渢hat鈥檚 now how oaths of office work.鈥�
The background check bill is on its way to her desk. She鈥檚 she鈥檒l sign it.
A few law enforcement officers in this state have been making noise about how they won鈥檛 enforce gun safety measures because they don鈥檛 like them. That鈥檚 not how laws work, of course, and it鈥檚 not how oaths of office work either. But let鈥檚 move past that.
— Michelle Lujan Grisham (@GovMLG)
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