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Category: To the Point with Mick Rich To the Point with Mick Rich
Published: 19 September 2023 19 September 2023

MLG invites Republican Senate & House Leaders to propose anti-violence legislation.

MICK RICH

New Mexicans woke up to “Governor announces statewide enforcement plan for  violence, fentanyl reduction – Plan includes 30-day suspension of concealed, open carry in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County.”

Santa Fe Democrats didn’t believe suspending concealed and open-carry weapons would end violence in Albuquerque. As Bill Clinton’s buddy Rahm Emanuel once said, “You never let a serious crisis go to waste. And what I mean by that is an opportunity to do things you thought you could not do before.”  Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s opportunity was to strip New Mexicans of their Second Amendment Rights while propelling her to the national stage.

What could go wrong? It worked with the COVID-19 epidemic. No one complained when she stripped us of our rights while New Mexico became the worst state for infection rates. No one complained when Albuquerque Mayor Keller stripped us of our Second Amendment rights on our public lands while Albuquerque continued to set records for violent crimes. New Mexicans have had enough of being blamed for their failures.  

MLG was propelled to the national stage, just not in the manner she had hoped for. Her blatant effort to exploit the suffering of Albuquerque residents for her political gains was apparent to even New Mexico’s Congressional Delegation (whose dreams of Presidency went poof). MLG's future went poof.

MLG acknowledged that her actions were a boost to the NM GOP (also rehabilitated the NRA reputation) fundraising activities when she wrote on X,” I’m still waiting on a thank-you note from the New Mexico GOP,” MLG ended her post on X by “… using it as an opportunity for immediate action to save New Mexican lives.” The Republican Leaders in the NM Senate and House should accept MLG's invitation to enact bipartisan legislation that will turn New Mexico into the safest state in the Nation.

My top five legislative actions to make New Mexico one of the safest states in the Nation.

1) Allow New Mexicans to vote on a new Bail Bond Referendum modeled after the Federal Bail Bond system.

2) Pass a “Darian Jarrott Three Strike & You're Out Law” that ends New Mexico’s enticement of felons from across the country.

3)  Pass a “Jackson Weller Felon in Possession of a Firearm Law” that keeps felons arrested for firearm possession behind bars until their trial.

4) Pass a “Peace Offer Recruitment Law” that compensates Peace Officers who move to New Mexico, restoring Peace Officers' qualified immunity, and social workers are no longer counted as Peace Officers.

5) It is time we pass NM Representative Rehm’s “Unlawful Firearms while trafficking” Bill.

MLG and her Santa Fe Democrats have awakened the New Mexican People. The Republican Party has been allowed to demonstrate they care about the hard-working people of New Mexico, not just a fat bank account.

Too many days have passed since my last article was sent to you and you deserve an explanation.

This year, I aimed to finish backpacking the last sixty miles of the John Muir Trail. The JMT is the nation’s most famous trail for its 8-13,000 elevation, 46,000 feet of ascent, 220 miles long, rough terrain, river crossing, and hazardous weather. That is why only half the people who start the JMT finish. Because of where I stopped and restarted, when I finish the JMT, I will have ascended 58,000 feet and hiked 238 miles. Not bad for a lovable old dog.

This year, deep snow kept the trail closed until the end of July. Then, I scrambled to obtain a permit, purchase supplies, repair damaged equipment (my backpack is 45 years old), and finally train (multiple hikes to the Sandia Tram) with a loaded pack. On my last training hike, I tried jogging the last mile to keep up with the young bucks (Marion reminded me I am a lovable Old Dog). I tripped, fell, and jammed my back, making continued training and typing my articles nearly impossible. I then concentrated on rehabilitation keeping up with business, and my articles took a back seat. 

I finally felt good enough to attempt the trip. This past Friday, I left home for Mammoth, Calif., to finish the last leg of the JMT. The night before entering the JMT, I rechecked the weather. The long-term forecast changed; temperatures dropped by 10-15 degrees, wind chill is now a factor, and snow is possible. The window for finishing the JMT this year closed.  

Eastern Side of the Sierra Nevada Range and JMT

I will be back next year to finish the John Muir Trail.