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SANTA FE, N.M. — Former Gov. Gary Johnson isn’t a fan of a bill that would expand New Mexico’s “three strikes” laws for repeat violent offenders.

In a letter that was read out today on the Senate floor by Sen. Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, Johnson wrote the legislation would not deter crime and could have negative consequences.

“Contrary to their intent, mandatory minimum laws like ‘three strikes’ do little to reduce crime,” Johnson said. “They do, however, help drive prison overcrowding and demand substantial increases in corrections spending.”

Gov. Susana Martinez is backing the three-strikes legislation, which was already approved in the House and is scheduled to be debated tonight in the Senate Public Affairs Committee.

While both Johnson and Martinez are Republicans, the two have sparred previously and are cut from a different political cloth.

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Backers of the three-strikes measure, House Bill 56, say a string of high-profile crimes in the Albuquerque area last year show a need for tougher sentencing laws and penalties.

Family members of some of the victims have made frequent appearances at the Roundhouse during this year’s 30-day legislative session, testifying in support of the three-strikes bill and other tough-on-crime measures.

Johnson served as New Mexico’s governor from 1995 through 2002. He was the Libertarian Party’s nominee for president in 2012 and is running again for the nation’s highest office this year.