Their view: Governor needs to bolster border protection

Brian Moore of Clayton is one of eight candidates for New Mexico lieutenant governor. Here’s what he had to say recently on his Web site about violence along the Mexican border:

“The murder of an Arizona rancher with ties to New Mexico is more evidence of the violence spilling over our southern border with Mexico.

“Over the past seven months, as we’ve traveled all over New Mexico, we’ve heard stories of animals missing and families threatened. We heard the story of a couple tied up and robbed, and now Rob Krenz’s name is added to the long list of casualties of this border war.

“And that’s not to mention hundreds of others, including an airman from Otero County and an employee of the U.S. consulate, murdered a stone’s throw away from our border in Juarez.

“People are more and more upset, more and more worried and more and more angry about the violence and the inability of government to protect them.

“Arguably, this is a federal issue and New Mexico needs to be pressing our Congressional delegation, President Obama and the Department of Homeland Security to do their job.

“But, New Mexico needs to take immediate action to protect our citizens who live in our state. Governor Richardson should make emergency funding available this week to bolster our southern counties’ sheriff’s offices and increase our State Police presence along the border communities.”