Las Cruces Mayor Pro Tem John Muñoz argues that securing firearms, particularly those left in vehicles, could help reduce gun theft and violence in the community

John P. Muñoz, Mayor Pro Tem, Las Cruces City Council District 6

Gun violence is not a single problem with a single cause. It is a pattern, a predictable convergence of behaviors, access points and environmental conditions. And because the pattern is predictable, the consequences are predictable. That means the solutions are also within reach with the courage to act.

So, who needs guns? Those who intend to harm others. Those who profit illegally and recklessly from selling weapons with no regard for the devastation left behind. Those who see guns as instruments of intimidation, retaliation and destruction.

This is not a Democratic issue or a Republican issue. It is a community issue, a life-and-death issue because, in Las Cruces, especially young people are being killed, injured and permanently maimed. As our city grows, we confront the reality of how guns move through our community. This is not random. It is patterned crime. And the silver lining is this: when we understand the pattern, we can disrupt it.

Disruption means accountability paired with real support. It requires investment in trauma-informed outreach. It requires strengthening the organizations that work closest to the problem and closest to the people most at risk. Of all the current and potential initiatives to help, there is one simple, powerful action every resident can take right now.

Secure your firearms. Every single time. No exceptions.

The largest driver of gun violence is the steady flow of stolen firearms. Guns taken from relatives, friends, homes and overwhelmingly from unlocked cars. By far, the most common source of stolen guns in Las Cruces is an unlocked vehicle. And once a gun is stolen, the likelihood that it will be used to rob, injure or kill someone is extraordinarily high. Stolen guns also significantly fuel youth access and suicide.

This is why secure storage is not just a personal responsibility; it is a community safety strategy. When firearms are stored locked, unloaded and separate from ammunition, theft drops. Youth access drops. Accidental shootings drop. The evidence is overwhelming.

Common sense tells us to lock our cars to protect our valuables. Yet too often, convenience wins. People hurry to a table at lunch or dinner, run into a store “just for a minute” or rush into a meeting thinking, “just this once.” But “just this once” is exactly how guns end up in the hands of people who will use them to harm others. Every year, hundreds of guns are stolen in Las Cruces. Since 2020, more than 1,000 guns have been stolen, and that number only reflects what is reported to the Las Cruces Police Department. Each stolen gun represents a potential tragedy.

Las Cruces is a resilient community. We have the tools, the partners and the determination to reduce gun violence. Securing firearms will not solve the entire problem, but it will have a major impact. It will save lives. It will protect our youth. And it is something we can do immediately, without waiting for Washington, Santa Fe or anyone else — or another tragedy to happen.

Human life, especially the lives of our young people, is precious. We live in a fast-paced world with countless opinions and endless debates. But this ask is simple, evidence-based and entirely within our control. No more stolen guns. No more preventable deaths. No more excuses.

I don’t mean to shame, judge or lecture. I, like every resident, want to be and feel safe and want that little one who sits next to us playing on their video game to live a long, healthy and vibrant life.

Again, this is not the only solution, but one which will have a huge impact. Please secure your firearms. Our community’s safety depends on it.

John P. Muñoz serves as mayor pro tem of Las Cruces and represents District 6 on the Las Cruces City Council.