A report released Wednesday from the Center for American Progress, ranks New Mexico the 10th worst state in the nation for gun deaths.
The report, called "America Under The Gun," puts New Mexico's gun-death rate, 40% higher than the national average, and looked at 10 key indicators like homicide, firearm violence against women, as well violence against law enforcement officials.
Tom Perriello is with the Center for American Progress. He says lax purchasing laws are related to the states rates of violence.
"New Mexico is the 10th worst state for gun deaths, it's actually got even higher levels in terms of crimes against women and children with use of a gun," says Perriello. "New Mexico, unfortunately is the fourth highest in the entire country in the rate of children under the age of 18 who've been killed by a gun between 2001 and 2010."
Perriello says states with the weakest gun laws have the highest rates of gun violence as well as gun trafficking, while states with stronger gun laws have less. Perriello also says stricter background checks in New Mexico could make a dent in gun violence levels.