New Mexico’s Democrat Governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham, has not received the support she expected from fellow leftists after unilaterally suspending Second Amendment rights in Albuquerque.
On Thursday, in response to the tragic shooting deaths of a thirteen-year-old girl on July 28, a five-year-old girl on August 14, and an eleven-year-old boy on September 6, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham declared gun violence a public health emergency.
On Friday, she took the unprecedented action of “suspending” gun rights in Albuquerque, the state’s largest city, with the potential for other cities to adopt similar measures.
Under this public health emergency, open and concealed carry laws in Bernalillo County have been temporarily suspended, effective immediately. The move is a direct infringement on law-abiding citizens’ Constitutional right to bear arms.
According to the press release, “The action plan includes a suspension of open and concealed carry laws in Bernalillo County, temporarily prohibiting the carrying of guns on public property with certain exceptions. Exceptions include for licensed security guards and law enforcement officers. Citizens with permits to carry firearms are free to possess their weapons on private property (such as at a gun range or gun store), provided they transport the firearm in a locked box, use a trigger lock, or some other mechanism that renders the gun incapable of being fired.”
Even far-left Democrats and gun-control advocates, like David Hogg, have not been supportive of Grisham’s unconstitutional order.
Grisham made an appearance on CNN to answer questions about her order.
During the interview, CNN host Poppy Harlow directly asked Grisham where she has the authority to suspend the Second Amendment. Grisham was clearly surprised by the pushback from CNN.
“We also have, Governor, the Constitution of New Mexico and the Constitution of the United States, and you’re an attorney. Do you think you’re on solid constitutional ground?” Harlow asked Grisham.
“Well, um, we’re gonna see. Look, I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t think I have the right. I have the right,” Grisham said.
“But where is the right?” Poppy Harlow asked.
“We’ll see what all of these court actions do,” Grisham said, appearing to admit that her order is illegal.
Grisham was visibly taken aback when Harlow proceeded to read the New Mexico Constitution live on-air.
Watch:
New Mexico Governor @GovMLG joined me this morning for her first national televised interview since she declared a public health emergency and announced a 30-day ban on carrying guns in public. pic.twitter.com/u9ar8EODU1
— Poppy Harlow (@PoppyHarlowCNN) September 12, 2023
The National Association for Gun Rights, along with Albuquerque resident Foster Haines, has filed a lawsuit against Grisham and other state officials in response to her illegal order.
On Saturday, in response to Grisham’s unconstitutional order, State Reps. Stefani Lord and John Block called for her impeachment.
Sheriff John Allen, who serves Bernalillo County north of Albuquerque, declared that he will not comply with Grisham’s order, saying that it violates her oath and is “illegal in nature.”
From the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s office:
Today, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham issued an emergency order temporarily suspending open and concealed carry laws in Albuquerque and throughout Bernalillo County for the next 30 days. This move has been positioned as a response to the alarming and tragic rise in gun violence, particularly the heart-wrenching death of an 11-year-old boy this past week.
First and foremost, every lost life is a tragedy, and the well-being of our community is of paramount concern to the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office. We share in the collective grief and urgency to address this issue.
However, as the elected Sheriff, I have reservations regarding this order. While I understand and appreciate the urgency, the temporary ban challenges the foundation of our Constitution, which I swore an oath to uphold. I am wary of placing my deputies in positions that could lead to civil liability conflicts, as well as the potential risks posed by prohibiting law-abiding citizens from their constitutional right to self-defense.
I was elected to represent and safeguard all constituents and to ensure the balance between our rights and public safety is maintained. That means we must critically evaluate any proposed solution to the deeply rooted issue of gun violence, ensuring we both protect our community and uphold the values that define us as a nation.
To proactively address gun violence, the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office has implemented and is currently executing several initiatives:
1. ERPO (Extreme Risk Protection Orders) – Identifying and addressing threats before they escalate.
2. Behavioral Health Unit – Addressing underlying mental health issues that often intersect with violent incidents.
3. Youth and Gun Violence Initiative – Focused programs to curb youth involvement in gun-related crimes.
4. Felon Firearm Possession Intervention – Targeting felons illegally in possession of firearms.
5. Crime Commission Initiative – Zeroing in on cases where firearms are used in the commission of crimes.
6. Interagency Collaboration – Partnering with State, Local, and Federal entities to create a unified front against gun violence.
7. Creation of a Violence Intervention Program – Intervening in gun violence before crimes happen through intel and inter-agency collaboration.
In conclusion, while we might not be in complete alignment with the Governor’s recent order, we remain steadfast in our commitment to work collaboratively, both with her office and with the community, to find sustainable solutions to the gun violence epidemic plaguing our county. It is through robust dialogues, open-mindedness, and the shared goal of a safer Bernalillo County that we will find our way forward.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support.
Sheriff John Allen Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office
