Uvalde school shooting: New Mexico parents search for answers

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Parents across the country are shaken up after the deadly school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Where do we go from here?

KOB 4 heard from politicians who can’t seem to agree on the best way to protect our children and schools. On Tuesday, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham sent out a statement proposing stricter gun laws:

“As elected officials, we must do everything in our power to reduce the number of firearms and deadly weapons on our streets to make sure that everyone in this country lives in peace and free of fear.”

In contrast to her statement, Steve Pearce, the chairman of the Republican Party of New Mexico, said:

“Gun control is not the answer. We must provide better security, more police presence, metal detectors, one-point secure entrances and take other appropriate measures to make our schools a safe place for all.”

Over at Los Ranchos Elementary School, parents waited in line Wednesday afternoon to pick up their children. Most people who spoke with KOB 4 agreed something needs to be done to ensure children’s safety. Many parents said gun control is the answer.

“As far as guns go, no one needs an assault rifle, nobody does. I understand the right to have a gun, but nobody needs an assault rifle,” Glenda Moore said.

“I definitely think gun control needs to be more important and I’m pro-gun,” Candace Brown said. “I have friends who have guns and I support that, but more effort needs to be made that the right people have access to those guns.”

Other parents disagreed.

“I think it is more about mental health issues, I think people are not getting the help they need mentally. Not so much gun control, but I think it’s more of a mental health issue,” Jennifer Aragon said.

Even after school pick-up, the debate continued online. Over on Twitter, some parents simply said more gun control.

Gun control, gun control, gun control.

— BakerJen (@BakerJen505) May 25, 2022

Others took it a step further – suggesting raising the age to purchase AR-15 type rifles and high capacity magazines, requiring universal background checks, having a national registry, and limiting the number of bullets they can purchase.

Universal background checks, national registry, limits on number of bullets that can be purchased, ban all AR-15s and similar military grade weapons. And yes mental health care but we are not the only place that struggles w/this! We are the only place that doesn’t regulate guns!

— Kate Williams (@KatePaigeW) May 25, 2022

Raise the age to purchase AR 15 type rifle and high capacity magazines, require separate licensure and safety course for those items-
Add personal liability for law enforcement refusing to enforce the recently passed red flag law…

— Jo Beth Griffin – #Standwithukraine🌈 (@JoBethGriffin1) May 25, 2022

But just like in the pick-up line – other parents say it’s not a gun issue but a security issue.

I’m not a parent, but I do work in the school system. I am totally for protecting our schools like we protect airports, court houses, and more.

— Shawn Cyrus (@realshawncyrus) May 25, 2022

All schools need one way to enter
school with metal detector & retired military officer at said door..emergency exit doors need a badge to enter from outside one patrol officer driving around
the school at all hours.

— AOrtega3 (@amosortega100) May 25, 2022

Some suggested schools needed one-way entrances and metal detectors – similar to airports.

Over on Facebook, the debate continued but there the suggestions were pretty evenly split between parents calling for more school security and the other half saying we need stricter gun laws.

Many New Mexicans just want the serious conversation about change to start. Hopefully, there is some common ground moving forward.