With crime running rampant across the state of New Mexico, and indeed, the entire United States, you would think our Democratic Colleagues would want to pass bills that strengthened our Police Forces and punished offenders. One law that has been on the books for Two Thousand Years is "You shall not Steal."

Joanne Ferrary, head of the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee has stalled multiple bills that would have enhanced law enforcements efforts to curtail crime. She has stalled bills that would increase penalties for possession of fentanyl, expand the State's definition for violent felonies, and would grant immunity from litigation, or tort claims related to "alleged" damages, or injury, for merchants who apprehend shoplifters.

When you consider, statistically, that the average dollar loss per shoplifting incident in the United States stands at approximately $460.00, one might consider increasing the penalty for theft. Compare Camp published an article written by Arthur Zuckerman who states, "While seemingly a victim-less crime, shoplifting is neither harmless nor without impact. It is now considered the number one major property crime in the United States. ORC or organized retail crime, another type of shoplifting/retail crime, combined with non-ORC shoplifting and employee theft for 2/3 of the value of annual shrinkage (retail fraud, losses, other types of retail losses), causes $50.6 billion in losses annually. For a crime that many may consider as petty, shoplifting has a dramatic impact on the business sector and the country's economy. The repercussions go deep, costing every taxpayer thousands of dollars. $47 million is the amount of daily loss to stores, and over $15 billion worth of goods per year are shoplifted. The National Association for Shoplifting Prevention states that lost revenues from shoplifting cost American taxpayers around $33.21 billion yearly or roughly $75,000 per minute."

Joanne Ferrary has been quoted as saying, as per the wording to HB57 "I don't want them using excessive force." She is speaking about business owners that have their merchandise STOLEN from them. Any normal American abhors theft, and won't stand for it. Joanne Ferrary believes the bill's language is too broad to define reasonable force, and could result in alleged THIEVES being injured." Being INJURED! Who is she supporting, the business VICTIM, or the criminal perpetrator?

The Republican Party STRONGLY supports the Rule of LAW in the United States. If someone is breaking the law, we do not feel the need to mollycoddle them. If you are going to steal, you are going to suffer the consequences. If you can't do the time, then don't do the crime!

Joanne Ferrary, you are soft on crime, and your leadership, when it comes to prevention of crime, and the penalties for it, is lacking. We think you should be held accountable to the Citizens of New Mexico for siding with the criminal element in our State. STOP being soft on crime.

Rene (Zeke) E. Rodriguez
District 37 Resident