On October 29, New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez voiced his endorsement for new legislation aimed at imposing harsher penalties for minors who make threats of school shootings. This proposal was unveiled during a news conference at Cleveland High School in Rio Rancho, where Torrez convened various law enforcement officials and school administrators to address the pressing issue. Under the proposed legislation, the crime of “making a shooting threat” at a school would be elevated to a fourth-degree felony from its current status as a misdemeanor. Notably, while bomb threats are presently classified as felonies under state law, threats involving gun violence made by minors are charged as misdemeanors, reflecting a significant gap in the legal framework.
During the announcement, several school administrators shared their observations regarding the rising trend of school shooting threats throughout New Mexico in recent years, alongside an associated increase in student access to firearms. Torrez’s office highlighted that in just the past month, there had been mass shooting threats reported at schools across various cities, including Albuquerque, Cimarron, Clovis, Las Cruces, Raton, Rio Rancho, Santa Fe, and Taos. Santa Fe Public Schools, in particular, experienced a wave of social media threats, which were ultimately deemed “noncredible” and attributed to a larger hoax affecting schools nationally. This context prompted Torrez to assert that the current legal framework inadequately addresses such serious conduct, underscoring the need for reform.
Under existing state law, juvenile probation officers within the Children, Youth and Families Department can dispose of up to three misdemeanor offenses for minors without involving district attorneys. Should the proposed legislation succeed in elevating the charges to felonies, it would necessitate that these cases come under the purview of prosecutors, ensuring a more formal legal response to the threats. Torrez emphasized that this change would bolster awareness among prosecutors and district attorneys regarding the occurrence of these crimes in schools, marking an important step in addressing the issue more seriously.
The dialogue surrounding this legislative proposal was further reinforced by Amy Suman, an associate superintendent from the Pojoaque Valley School District, who characterized the current situation concerning teens’ access to guns as “outrageous.” She recounted a recent incident wherein a student had threatened the life of an administrator within her district, illustrating the urgent need for intervention. Furthermore, Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina expressed his support for the initiative, acknowledging that while some critics may argue that increasing penalties alone will not effectively deter crime, he believes that such measures should be part of a broader strategy aimed at enhancing school safety.
The proposal has also garnered attention for its potential to simplify the process through which law enforcement can obtain search warrants when investigating threats of school shootings. This aspect of the legislation aims to empower law enforcement agencies with the necessary tools to respond more proactively to these alarming incidents. Additionally, Torrez was supported in his advocacy by State Representative Joy Garratt from Albuquerque, who mentioned that the proposal is already enjoying “bipartisan support” within the legislative framework, signaling a unified effort to tackle the issue.
In summary, the increasing frequency of threats related to school shootings in New Mexico has prompted a legislative response advocating for stricter penalties against minors who engage in such conduct. By elevating the charges to felonies and ensuring that cases will be formally addressed by prosecutors, the proposed legislation aims to rectify perceived deficiencies in the current legal approach towards these threats. With broad support from law enforcement officials, school administrators, and legislators, there is a collective recognition of the need to address gun violence in schools comprehensively, ultimately striving to create a safer environment for students and educators alike.