Lawmaker wants to reconsider suicide barriers at Taos Gorge

July 30, 2011

suicides are up at the taos gorge- this month two people have jumped to their deaths. that has one state senator saying it's time to rethink suicide barriers. gadi schwartz has the story from taos. on a dreary day- state police make their rounds at the taos gorge bridge for anyone who may have jumped the 650 feet to their death. it must take a lot of guts for anybody to even come out here and even contemplate that they must be in a lot of pain this month two people jumped to their deaths... bringing the number of suicides at the bridge to 4 since january. now state senator carlos sisneros says he plans to introduce legislation next session to take another look at putting up suicide barriers- its an idea that been talked about in the past. options include installing a higher fence or a net of some kind. currently there is only railing to keep those who walk the bridge safe. when asked about suicide barriers- opinions are mixed. i guess the chainlink fence might disrupt ones vision - i don't know about netting down there they would have to go pretty far out its to easy to just jump right off here and if you have a net or something that at least makes them think for a few seconds or a minute or 2 it makes it a little more difficult. the taos gorge bridge is 5th highest bridge in the united states.