Joint statement: N.M. governor, congressional delegation, House speaker and attorney general meet to discuss action against violent crime, domestic terrorism

Statement

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján, U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland, U.S. Rep. Xochitl Torres Small, New Mexico Speaker of the House Brian Egolf and Attorney General Hector Balderas met in Santa Fe on Monday to advance ongoing discussions between New Mexico elected leaders on prospective action to decrease the risk of violent crime and domestic terrorism in the state.

Meeting at the state Capitol, the governor, congressional delegation, speaker and attorney general built upon the analysis of the domestic terrorism summit convened by the governor Aug. 14 at which key state legislators of both parties and public safety stakeholders at the state and local levels discussed proactive measures the state might take to identify actors who would strike any New Mexico community with mass violence.

The discussion Monday centered on federal and state efforts to enhance background checks and other commonsense measures to ensure bad actors are kept separate from the means of facilitating mass violence; potential state legislation to consistently define and toughen penalties for domestic terrorism, to be considered for the upcoming 2020 session of the state Legislature; and continued improvements in sharing resources and data between state and federal jurisdictions.

Thanking Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, who were represented by staff, the governor, congress members, speaker and attorney general issued the following joint statement after Monday's gathering:

"Our approach to crime-fighting and crime prevention must be proactive. Coming together to sustain a dialogue about preventative, evidence-based measures is an important step toward developing a substantive framework for information- and data-sharing that will help both state and federal public safety officials stay on the front foot. We must be as smart about crime as we are tough, and together we will ensure New Mexico families, our shared constituents, are as safe in their communities as they can possibly be."