A couple of weeks ago I wrote an article particularly about crime, and basically about one local crime. Yet some of the readers believed I was giving the Silver City Daily Press a hard time about the amount of crime being reported. Well, that assumption was incorrect. I am glad the Silver City Daily Press and other media outlets report crime. However it is the many acts of crime themselves that I was writing about.

When more than 30% of a paper's news is the police blotter, I think people should be concerned about the amount of crime taking place. As well as how crime is handled locally.

I am writing this article after sitting through a very revealing meeting with Scott Weaver, New Mexico Department of Public Safety Cabinet Secretary. He gave our group statistics about crime throughout the Land of Enchantment. He gave a very good description about a day in the life of a law enforcement officer. This was a speech I wish everyone could hear. It definitely gives me great pause to say anything that would be negative toward law enforcement. These brave men and women get up each morning, wear protective body armor, and plan for a day that can be filled with a lot of "what ifs."

Yet despite their best efforts, the state of New Mexico is still ranked #1 in the country for dangerous crime. The task to fight crime is surely daunting, and I ask what can we, the public, do to help? Maybe that answer can come from our local police chiefs or sheriff? And though New Mexico will begin a new legislative session in a few weeks, the answer can't always be give us more money... because our State has no new trees growing dollar bills.

Regarding recommendations... I always enjoy receiving some of your recommendations about these opinion articles I write. "Go back to wherever you came from!" "Stop using up precious ink!" And one of my favorites, "You sound like some stupid redneck." Okay... okay... first, I can't go back because they made me move here. Then, I honestly didn't know the ink was precious. And finally, you're darn right, I am proud of my southern redneck heritage.

Phew... now that all of that stuff is out of the way. My meetings in Santa Fe this week as a representative from southwest New Mexico have been very good. As I mentioned there was the meeting today (Tuesday) with D.P.S., and we met with Cabinet Secretaries of Economic Development, Children, Youth and Families, Tourism, Public Education and the Governor's staff. We will continue more meetings on Wednesday.

I do not envy the job legislators will have this year to try to manage the many issues before them. This will be a year when our local legislators will surely want to hear from their constituents. Whether you agree with them or not, please communicate with them. Let your elected representatives know how you feel about issues and bills. Please share some of your recommendations with them... but keep them nice, please.