Democratic New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has refused to back down on her 30-day gun ban in the state following a restraining order from the court after she declared gun violence a public health emergency in response to the shooting deaths of a thirteen-year-old girl, a five-year-old girl and eleven-year-old boy.
“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,” according to the press release.
Earlier this week, a federal judge blocked Grisham’s gun ban.
US District Court Judge David Urias issued a temporary restraining order against Grisham for her gun ban until next month’s hearing.
Judge Urias said the ban violated the rights of law-abiding citizens to defend themselves.
On Friday, she ‘amended’ her unconstitutional order and refused to comply with the Court’s restraining order.
AP reported: “New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Friday narrowed an order that broadly suspended the right to carry firearms in and around Albuquerque to apply only to public parks and playgrounds where children and their families gather.”
Grisham said her executive order “is amended to be focused now (on) no open or concealed carry in public parks or playgrounds, where we know we’ve got high risk of kids and families.”
Meanwhile, some media, Democrats, and even gun-grabbing activists like David Hogg blasted Grisham’sorder suspending gun rights in Albuquerque.
David Hogg reacted to Grisham’s gun ban order with an X post, saying, “I support gun safety, but there is no such thing as a state public health emergency exception to the US Constitution.”
New Mexico Democrat Attorney General announced on Tuesday he would not defend Grisham against lawsuits filed in response to her gun ban.
“I am writing to inform you that my office will not defend your administration in the above referenced cases challenging the Public Health Emergency Order Imposing Temporary Firearm Restrictions, Drug Monitoring and Other Public Safety Measures (the Emergency Order) issued by the Secretary of Health on September 8, 2023,” Raul Torrez wrote in a 4-page letter.
“Though I recognize my statutory obligation as New Mexico’s chief legal officer to defend state officials when they are sued in their official capacity, my duty to uphold and defend the constitutional rights of every citizen takes precedence. Simply put, I do not believe that the Emergency Order will have any meaningful impact on public safety, but, more importantly, I do not believe it passes constitutional muster,” Torrez added.
Torrez scolded Grisham for her move to suspend gun rights.
“However, I encourage you to engage in a more thoughtful and deliberative process with members of the New Mexico Legislature rather than taking unilateral action that infringes on the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens while having little if any discernible impact on the underlying dynamics driving gun violence in our community,” Torrez wrote.
Last week, State Reps. Stefani Lord and John Block for Governor Grisham to be impeached.
“This emergency order violates the Governor’s oath to protect and defend the rights of New Mexicans and is illegal in nature. The legislature has a duty to intervene when the government is overstepping its boundaries, and Governor Grisham’s order and comments disqualify her from continuing her tenure as Governor,” the Reps wrote in a press release.
“I’m calling on counsel to begin the impeachment process against Governor Grisham,” Rep. Lord said. “This is an abhorrent attempt at imposing a radical, progressive agenda on an unwilling populous. Rather than addressing crime at its core, Governor Grisham is restricting the rights of law-abiding gun owners.”
READ: New Mexico Sheriff REFUSES to Enforce Governor’s ‘Unconstitutional’ Gun Ban
