Former DA Martwick Pens Letter to DA Luce Over Concerns Regarding Dismissal of Firearm Charge in Beltran Case
This morning, the Democratic Party of New Mexico is calling out gubernatorial candidate Mark Ronchetti and his allies for their soft-on-gun-crime policies, a position that contributed to a dangerous felon getting away with possession of a firearm scot-free.
The Democratic Party of New Mexico held a press conference with former Twelfth Judicial District Attorney Diana Martwick, Arielle Giddens, the Communications Lead for New Mexico Moms Demand Action, and other gun violence prevention advocates to emphasize that politicians and law enforcement officers, including prosecutors, have a responsibility to protect New Mexicans from gun violence.
Former Twelfth Judicial District Attorney Diana Martwick, a Republican, spoke about the recent letter (attached below) that she sent to the current Fifth Judicial District Attorney Dianna Luce questioning why Luce had dismissed a firearm charge in a case that has recently made headlines in the New Mexico governor’s race.
Martwick emphasized that District Attorney Dianna Luce could have prosecuted Christopher Beltran for a firearm charge, which would have put him in jail for an appropriately longer time. Notably, before she dismissed the case, Luce lobbied against gun violence prevention laws in Santa Fe, where she spoke on the floor to a House Committee against background check legislation, saying “
I stand in support of gun owners.” VIDEO of DA Luce’s gun lobbying
here.
“New Mexicans have a right to know whether District Attorney Luce’s personal advocacy on gun ownership and second amendment rights prevented her and got in the way of her ability to prosecute the felon in possession of a firearm charge against Mr. Beltran,” said former District Attorney Diana Martwick. “New Mexicans also have a right to know who is really responsible for Mr. Beltran’s release from prison. It was certainly not Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. And for Mark Ronchetti to continue to insist that, without investigating the facts and highlighting the key role of the District Attorney and her decision to drop the gun charges against Mr. Beltran, is at best ignorant and is at worst outright deceitful.”
Arielle Giddens, Communications Lead of New Mexico Moms Demand Action, an organization dedicated to fighting for public safety measures that can protect people from gun violence, also spoke at the press conference. She called out Mark Ronchetti for receiving the highest rating possible from the NRA—the
gun lobby group opposes New Mexico’s red flag laws and gun violence prevention efforts.
“There is a clear choice in this election: Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has a long record of taking action to protect New Mexicans from gun violence. Mark Ronchetti received an ‘A’ rating from the NRA, who opposed New Mexico’s red flag laws. He would make New Mexico less safe,” said New Mexico Moms Demand Action’s Arielle Giddens. “New Mexicans deserve a leader who is taking the steps to keep guns off of our streets and out of the hands of violent criminals. And Governor Lujan Grisham is the only candidate who can and will deliver common sense gun regulation.”
Governor Lujan Grisham is the only candidate in this race who is committed to keeping New Mexicans safe from gun violence:
