ALBUQUERQUE, NM — From the lips of families of violent crime victims to the ears of our governor, a series of heated town hall meetings over the past week have produced progress.

After Sally Sanchez said last month’s special session failed, she and other families affected by violent crime viewed these town hall meetings as an opportunity.

Ten families from the New Mexico Crusaders for Justice group, all of whom had lost loved ones to gun violence, confronted Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and other local elected officials.

“My son Antonio Jaramillo was murdered in his own home at the age of 32 by five repeat offenders,” Sanchez said.

Sanchez and other mothers told painful stories of their loss. The governor expressed her condolences.

“I agree with you. I hate that we have to talk about your pain to bring awareness to these issues. Thank you for coming,” Lujan Grisham said.

That gratitude went a step further. Sanchez said a representative from the governor’s office contacted her a few days later.

“We wanted to know exactly what we were looking for, what kind of laws we would like to see introduced and passed,” Sanchez said.

The Crusaders want a victims’ rights center. It would be a place where people can go and find resources, lawyers and victim advocates.

“They forget that the victims and their families also have rights. This is written in the New Mexico Constitution and education must be provided on this,” said Sanchez.

They also demand accountability.

“We don’t need new laws, but rather, ‘Let’s revise the existing laws and hold the criminals accountable,'” Sanchez said.

Sanchez says the executive director of the New Mexico Victims’ Rights Project has already drafted a bill for the office. The next step is to find legislative support.

“Hopefully we will see some bills and be asked to come to the negotiating table and have our say. That is our next hope,” Sanchez said.