CITY of ALBUQUERQUE
TWENTY THIRD COUNCIL
COUNCIL BILL NO. R-19-179 ENACTMENT NO. ________________________
SPONSORED BY: Isaac Benton
RESOLUTION
title
Calling Upon The State Of New Mexico To Establish A Process That Provides For The Issuance Of Court Orders That Would Require The Relinquishment Of Firearms For Some Period Of Time Under Circumstances Of Extreme Risk (Benton)
body
CALLING UPON THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO TO ESTABLISH A PROCESS THAT PROVIDES FOR THE ISSUANCE OF COURT ORDERS THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE RELINQUISHMENT OF FIREARMS FOR SOME PERIOD OF TIME UNDER CIRCUMSTANCES OF EXTREME RISK.
WHEREAS, on multiple occasions in 2019 alone, hundreds of Americans have now been injured or killed by the lethal use of legally-owned firearms by individuals who have shown prior indicators of extreme behavioral disorder; and
WHEREAS, very often these incidents are preceded by reports of prior indicators -clear warning signs that the shooter posed a serious threat before the shooting, which may have not been discussed, reported or acted upon by family members, acquaintances, or friends of the perpetrators or by law enforcement agencies; and
WHEREAS, the New Mexico Legislature has enacted legislation that acknowledges that possession of lethal weapons should be controlled under circumstances that provide unique potential threats to innocent victims; and
WHEREAS, the Albuquerque community is experiencing a crisis of behavioral health and substance abuse; and those who recognize such warning signs should be empowered to bring them forward and acted upon in the interest of the public, the individuals concerned and their families; and
WHEREAS, seventeen states have enacted such extreme risk laws that give family members and law enforcement a way to intervene before warning signs escalate into tragedies, including suicides, homicides and mass homicides.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL, THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE:
...
Click here for full text