DA Sam Bregman warns Highland High School of the consequences of bringing guns to school

At just 17 years old, Naomi Peralta has already been on both sides of gun violence.

Between losing her stepfather in a shooting and her stepbrother behind bars for being involved in a shooting, Peralta has a more intimate experience with the realities of gun violence than many others her age.

So when Highland High School students on Wednesday got a visit from a special guest — Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman — to talk about the perils and consequences of bringing guns to school campuses, Peralta found herself moved to tears.

“It did hit very close to home,” she said about Bregman’s presentation. “... It touched my heart. But then it also made me want change for the justice system to actually get those points across (about) how bad it hurts, because you don’t know what it really feels like until you’re in those shoes.”

In the two presentations Bregman delivered to a pair of cohorts of Highland students, he ranged from describing the harsh consequences of bringing a gun to school — prosecution by his office and possible time behind bars — and trying to inspire students to do what’s best for themselves. Wednesday’s presentations were a continuation of Bregman’s tour of local schools giving similar speeches.

“I’m not up here to just give you a lecture,” he said. “I’m here to give you a little bit of knowledge so that you can … make really good decisions.”

According to district policy, students who bring guns to Albuquerque Public Schools campuses face expulsion for a year. And Bregman also aimed to drill the criminal consequences of bringing a gun to school, which could include up to 18 months in prison, into the minds of Highland students.

DA’s Office spokeswoman Nancy Laflin wrote in an email that there are 14 pending or open cases involving someone bringing a gun on campus. Eleven of those involve students.

One theme came up during both of Bregman’s presentations, held in the school gym: “What if you need to protect yourself?”

“I understand that some people think they need a gun to protect themselves. But that’s nonsense at this level. Nonsense,” Bregman said in response. “You’re all kids. (It’s) against the law for you to have a gun right now.”

Faced with a gym full of students, Bregman couldn’t help but brag a bit about his son, a Houston Astros infielder who has two World Series titles under his belt.

But he also brought up Alex Bregman for a reason, holding his work ethic up to show the high schoolers they could accomplish anything.

“The reason I show that to you — obviously, I’m a proud dad and all that stuff — but he had a dream, right? Just like each and every one of you do,” Bregman said after playing a highlight reel of his son. “... Whatever it might be, if you make good choices … everything and anything is possible.”

Bregman’s points, especially that students shouldn’t feel a need to carry guns to protect themselves, rang true for junior Jamoni Wright.

“Just because of the area that we’re (in), I feel like a lot of people feel the need to protect ourselves or, in general, other people around them,” he said. “But I feel like he made it clear that we are safe enough in the community.”