FARMINGTON, N.M. — Today, Everytown for Gun Safety and its grassroots networks Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, issued the following statements ahead of the one year mark of the mass shooting in Farmington where three people were shot and killed, and six others were wounded. The 18-year-old shooter legally purchased an AR-15 in 2022 and multiple rounds of ammunition just days before firing at nearby homes and drivers during a walk in the area.
“A walk through the neighborhood or a drive around town shouldn’t be a death sentence – yet one year ago that is exactly what happened when a teenager armed with an assault rifle and multiple rounds of ammunition decided to open fire on his neighbors,” said Alexis Jimenez, a volunteer with the New Mexico chapter of Moms Demand Action. “While nothing is going to bring our neighbors back, we can honor their lives with common-sense and life-saving action that keeps weapons of war off our streets and protects our communities from senseless acts of gun violence.”
“These gut wrenching tragedies shouldn’t be possible, yet America remains stuck in an endless cycle of mass shootings due to weak gun laws,” said Leighanne Muñoz, a survivor of gun violence that involved an AR-15 and a member of the Students Demand Action National Organizing Board from New Mexico. “What happened last year could have been prevented–three people should be alive today. No one, especially a teenager, should be able to legally buy a weapon of war. To honor the lives taken, those injured, and the Farmington community, we’ll continue fighting for an assault weapons ban in New Mexico.”
“Our hearts ache with families across New Mexico, knowing that their loved ones should be here with us today,” said Monisha Henley, SVP of Government Affairs at Everytown for Gun Safety. “Unfortunately, the shooting in Farmington represents the harsh reality of our gun violence epidemic: every day, communities across our nation are torn apart by senseless acts of gun violence. This crisis is only worsened by the assault weapons flooding our communities and a gun industry that remains unchecked. Let’s hold these bad actors accountable, ban these deadly weapons, and protect communities across New Mexico.”
Tomorrow, coinciding with the one year mark of the Farmington shooting, HB 129 will be going into effect. This law addresses the Charleston Loophole and strengthens the state’s gun safety laws by creating a 7-day waiting period on all firearm purchases to ensure firearms aren’t being transferred during a moment of an acute mental health crisis that could result in the person harming themselves or others.
Creating a time buffer between someone having a suicidal crisis and access to a gun can be the difference between life and death, especially during a time of crisis. Guns are by far the most lethal method of commonly-used methods of self-harm, with a fatality rate of about 90%. By implementing a 7-day waiting period we can reduce the chances of a moment of crisis being fatal and armed with a firearm. More information about waiting periods is available here.
The Charleston Loophole is a dangerous gap in the federal system that allows gun sales to proceed after three business days, even if the background check has not yet been completed. Under this legislation, the loophole is addressed by giving background check operators significantly more time – up to 20 days – to determine if a buyer is prohibited.
Since the Farmington shooting, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action volunteers have been working tirelessly alongside partners and lawmakers to advance gun safety policies such as HB 129.
During the last session, lawmakers sent to the floor a first-in-the nation measure to ban assault weapons like the one used by the Farmington shooter. The measure, known as “GOSAFE”, was modeled after Senator Heinrich’s federal bill and prohibits the sale, transfer, and receipt of gas-operated semi automatic firearms and large-capacity magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition, including weapons commonly employed in mass shootings.
From 2015 to 2022, mass shootings with four or more people killed where an assault weapon was used resulted in nearly six times as many people shot, more than twice as many people killed, and 23 times as many people wounded on average compared to those that did not involve the use of one. Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action volunteers will continue working with lawmakers across the state in favor of banning these weapons ahead of the next legislative session.
More information about the role of assault weapons in the gun violence crisis is available here.
In an average year, 507 people die by guns in New Mexico. With a rate of 24.2 deaths per 100,000 people, New Mexico has the 3rd-highest rate of gun deaths in the US. More information about gun violence in New Mexico is available here.
