NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – School started just last month and there has already been a spike in lockdowns over students making threats. The state’s top law enforcement officer is now calling on lawmakers to increase penalties. “The increasing frequency that it’s happening here in New Mexico hopefully will encourage lawmakers to sort of reassess the decision that exists under current law to treat threats of mass violence somehow differently,” said New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez.
Torrez said current state law isn’t preventing students from making threats. Currently, it’s a misdemeanor and he said it should be a felony. He argued judges are reluctant to approve search warrants for juveniles suspected of misdemeanor crimes. “Any threat of that kind should be a felony. There is no justification in my mind for this continuing to be a misdemeanor,” said AG Torrez.
Numerous proposals to toughen penalties for criminal threats have failed in the legislature over the last four years.