Mayor pro tem wants dialogue

Smith urges conversation on how to stop mass killings

The Las Cruces Bulletin

Las Cruces Mayor Pro Tem Greg Smith, who represents district two on the city council, read the following statement at the end of the Monday, June 20, regular council meeting about his desire to see a conversation begin in Las Cruces on how to prevent gun violence. “Regarding the horrendous shooting in Orlando last week, I appreciate our mayor’s suggestion that members of the council donate blood, the resolution he is offering, and his letter of condolence to the mayor of Orlando. Unfortunately, at least two of us on the council cannot donate blood, but I will say for my part, I have made a financial contribution to the American Red Cross since I cannot. Beyond that, I believe we need to do what we can to ensure that Las Cruces is safe from such attacks.

“One of my friends on Facebook shared something which (former U.S. Representative) Gabby Giffords had posted, and the title was “ENOUGH.” The central point seemed to me to be that it is past time for us to agree to proactively engage in efforts to stop the mass killings in this country. I agree.

“As an elected municipal official, I have been asked by constituents and other concerned citizens to do something so that we can avoid such horror happening here… again… [Although it was a robbery and not apparently a planned mass shooting, we cannot forget the four who were killed and the three who were wounded in 1990.] (This is a reference to the murders in Las Cruces on Feb. 10, 1990, at Las Cruces Bowl). “However, even as an unelected citizen of this country, I am compelled to say we have to genuinely start somewhere and find that we agree enough to work together. If no answers are forthcoming from Santa Fe or Washington, let it start locally. Let it start with our agreeing that we can act rather than simply and passively waiting for the next incident to occur.

“I do not yet have a specific action to propose, but my hope is that we can start a public dialogue, convene a task force, or otherwise proactively do more than wait. I know that many in this community and across our nation have very different and very strongly held beliefs on this topic. Even so, what I am asking is that we start in a different place before we fall into the ruts of the usual and entrenched positions.

“Are we sufficiently alarmed yet to say, ‘ENOUGH’ and then authentically listen to other viewpoints, sincerely consider alternatives, and genuinely take agreed upon action? If so, what else can we agree upon at this point?”

SMITH