Violent crime on the rise in Albuquerque. While crime rates appear to be slightly down overall, New Mexico’s largest city saw an increase in the rates of most violent crimes last year. Last year the city recorded a 4% annual increase in shootings and stabbings, according to recent data from the Albuquerque Journal. Last year the city recorded a nearly identical stat, making the 4% uptick a year over year increase. As these trends continue, they will, no doubt, impact other parts of the state.
The crime epidemic facing Albuquerque has pushed some Legislators, like Representative Bill Rehm, to address the problems that many other Legislators seem to ignore in favor of their own pet projects. Rep. Rehm has listened to his constituents concerns and attacked the issue head on with a line up of over 20 bills focused on reducing crime. House Democrats, on the other hand, have either not scheduled the bills to be heard in committee (which effectively renders them inert from the start) or moved to table (kill) all but a few of these bills after short deliberation. NMBC is delighted to see some legislators like Rep. Rehm focusing on the growing issue of crime in New Mexico and addressing it with a smart legislation. Listed below are just a few of the bills sponsored by Rep Rehm that have faced difficulty in the session.
- HB 58 Additional Violent Felonies – Not yet heard in first House committee.
- HB 59 Habitual Felony Offender Consideration – Not yet heard in first House committee.
- HB 61 Reserve Police Officer Act – Passed one committee
- HB 62 Prosecution Time Limit for Certain Felonies – Tabled
- HB 63 DWI Blood Testing – Tabled
- HB 64 Unlawful Use of Body Armor – Not yet heard in first House committee.
- HB 80 Pretrial Detention Rebuttable Position – Not yet heard in first House committee.
- HB 81 Unlawful Weapons While Trafficking – Not yet heard in first House committee.
- HB 144 Damage To Property By Theft – Passed by one committee.
- HB 145 Crime of Illegally Dismantling a Vehicle – passed all committees and requires a House floor vote.
- HB 187 Drugged Driving Penalties – Tabled
- HB 275 Fallen Officer Signage on Highways – Passed Committee.
- HB 279 No Gov. Restrictions on Gun & Ammo Stores – Tabled
- HB 293 Increase Certain Mandatory Minimum Sentences – Tabled
- HJR 4 Conditions for Denial of Bail – Tabled
New Mexico is still one of the most dangerous place is the US. But unfortunately, many legislators are more focused on legalizing marijuana, specialty license plates, or updating government buildings instead of making New Mexico a tough place for criminals.