In the very early hours of Jan 3, 2023, my family’s peace was shattered by twelve bullets penetrating our home. Three of the bullets tore through my 11-year-old daughter’s bedroom, coming within inches of where she lay sleeping in her bed. Two of those bullets then tore into my bedroom. As that day wore on, the enormity of a brutal attack aimed at causing serious injury and death in my home occupied every corner of our minds. Within a few days, the men who fired the guns from just outside my front door into my home were arrested.
The police investigation found that Solomon Peña, a former Republican candidate for the New Mexico House of Representatives and devoted MAGA follower, was the mastermind behind the shooting, joining with his guns-for-hire group in pulling the trigger.
I had never met him. I only knew about his candidacy based on a campaign sign on a local street. So, I had to ask: “Why? Why me? Why my Family?” I expect we will learn more as Solomon Peña’s criminal trial comes about. Still, for now, I can only speculate about a small minority of deranged people who are moved to the most extreme and violent methods of affecting change in our society. In this case, I believe this comes from the influence of the vitriolic television and radio personalities selling fear and outrage to earn their paychecks, the rapid spread of anarchist social media sites, and, quite conspicuously, the venom spewed by one of the most hate-filled people ever to have been elected president, and who is again trying to obtain the office. All while choosing to ignore or not care about the destruction caused by his words to a small but virulent cadre of followers willing to insert violence into our wonderful Country’s democratic experiment.
I firmly believe that our Democracy is based on a healthy discourse among the people supporting candidates who align with their ideas, beliefs, and hopes for a future that benefits the people. Disagreement is unavoidable and can often be helpful in moving us forward. But it only works if we come together, listen to each other’s positions, and, hopefully, find common ground in forging a solution to issues of the day. The bullets that rang through our home did not change my belief about Democracy, nor did they deter me from running for re-election this year. Instead, they have given me an opportunity to talk with others about the political strife we find ourselves in and ways to stop those who believe political violence is the way to achieve the change they want.
Our society must never accept that violence is acceptable in creating change. We must never be of a norm that violence is to be expected in everyday life, or the NRA perpetuated a dystopian message of fear and angst that can only be assuaged with the purchase of a firearm. That norm also extends itself to those who have disagreements with a person, an idea, or a vote…settling it via the use of a gun.
As adults and leaders in our communities, we must find a way to have the needed discussions among those we agree with and reach out to those with whom we do not agree. Discourse is at the core of our Democracy. We must continue to have good relationships with our neighbors and family members, regardless of political persuasion. We must find ways to work together to better our communities through common ground.
Violence can silence us, or violence can energize us to find our voice to stop the fear, stop the hate. The shooting up of our home did not silence my voice. Because I have no General Election opposition, I will be seated for another term in January. And I will work hard to continue the conversations and actions needed to stop political violence in our state.
Lastly, I thank city and county law enforcement agencies who were able to quickly find and arrest the vicious perpetrators who shot up not only my home but the homes of two Bernalillo County Commissioners and the Speaker of the House in the New Mexico Legislature. My family is grateful for the outpouring of support from our community and state and the many who reached out from throughout our country.