New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham on Friday, September 15, narrowed her 30-day “emergency public health order” signed by New Mexico Health Secretary Patrick Allen that suspended both the open carry and “permitted concealed carry” of firearms in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County. Now the order applies “…only to public parks and playgrounds where children and their families gather,” states an article posted at AP.com.

The governor has faced legal challenges, including a federal judge’s partial blocking of her order, and extensive criticism by gun rights’ supporters since she issued the order on September 8.

Gov. Lujan Grisham is on record as saying she was “compelled” to issue the order in the aftermath of current gun violence, including the fatal shootings in Albuquerque on July 28, August 14 and September 6, respectively, of a 13-year old girl, a five-year old girl, an 11-year-old boy, not to mention two mass shootings in New Mexico this year.

In a September 8 press release issued by the governor’s office, Gov. Lujan Grisham said , “…the time for standard measures has passed. And when New Mexicans are afraid to be in crowds, to take their kids to school, to leave a baseball game – when their very right to exist is threatened by the prospect of violence at every turn – something is very wrong.”

 A strong proponent of gun rights, Republican State Representative Randy Pettigrew suggests that Gov. Lujan Grisham’s order is unconstitutional. The AP article quotes Pettigrew as saying, “This is [the governor and her administration] trying to figure out how far they can take a public health order.” Pettigrew, who is a plaintiff in a lawsuit filed in state court that challenges the governor’s actions, said that he won’t back down in his fight. “I’m not going to stop. I can’t. My constituents won’t let me, and I don’t believe we should.”

Like Rep. Pettigrew, Lea County stakeholders have much to say about the governor’s actions. Opinions vary. Still, assuring public safety remains imperative to all, especially to Lea County commissioners, local government officials and law enforcement.

Commissioners Allocate $800,000

Recently, two Lea County commissioners allocated $800,000 towards the funding of an almost $1,000,000 Hobbs Municipal Schools’ (HMS) project designed to upgrade safety at the district’s schools. 

At the commission’s August 24 meeting vice chairman Gary Eidson and District 4 Commissioner Jonathan Sena, both of Hobbs, “…pooled their resources to help ensure the safety of Hobbs students and staff,” states a Lea County press release. Eidson pledged $300,000 and Sena pledged $500,000 “…to fund facility and security upgrades and improvements at Hobbs Municipal Schools.” 

Eidson’s allocation is coming from his last year’s discretionary funds whereas Sena opted to give the total of his current discretionary funds to the project. HMS is paying the balance necessary to cover the costs of the project out of monies the district has received from the 2023 New Mexico Legislature for “safety and security” projects.

According to HMS superintendent Gene Strickland, a “bullet proof” laminate film, manufactured by Safe Haven Defense, is being applied onto selected exterior windows and windowed doors on buildings throughout the HMS district. The laminate film keeps windows, if violated, from shattering and falling out of the window frame and makes break-ins more time consuming and difficult to achieve. As a result school officials have more time to contact law enforcement if and when an emergency arises. The result is safer schools for all – students, staff, vendors, parents.

The present HMS security project is not the only initiative the district has taken to beef up security in the district’s schools. During the summer of 2022, HMS implemented the ZeroEyes artificial intelligence camera system in schools throughout the district. Superintendent Strickland said about ZeroEyes, “…this is a piece of our ecosystem that can bring some peace and comfort knowing that we’re providing protection that previously didn’t exist and wasn’t available.”

Using cameras already installed in the schools, the ZeroEyes system’s goal is to “detect anything that resembles a gun”, states a KCBD news report. “The footage is then sent to dispatchers who review it and alert administration and security on scene.” According to the KCBD report, “…a potential gunman can be detected and stopped before any shots are fired.”

ZeroEyes Software Contracted by City of Hobbs

After observing the success of ZeroEyes gun detection software in Hobbs public schools, the City of Hobbs has contracted for a 60-month service contract with ZeroEyes. The system’s software will be layered on Hobbs’ existing security cameras to detect “illegally brandished” guns. According to communications director Meghan Mooney, the cost of the service to the city is $22,500 annually.

In an article published at GovTech.com, Hobbs Police Department’s public information and community relations officer Reanna Alarcon states, “We believe the implementation of ZeroEyes within the general public will help deter and reduce crimes involving firearms. We would like to thank the City of Hobbs for investing in this program and the additional protection for the citizens we serve.”

Data from Reuters estimates that about “500 people die by guns each year in New Mexico.” New Mexico is sixth “among U.S. states for gun deaths per capita, according to gun violence prevention group Everytown for Gun Safety.” FBI violent crime data ranks Albuquerque as one of the ten “most dangerous U.S. cities”.