New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham snapped back at Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen’s remarks during a Monday press conference, saying she doesn’t need a sheriff giving her a “lecture on constitutionality.”
Allen refused to enforce Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s gun ban because it “challenges the foundation of our Constitution.”
While Allen acknowledged on X that “Every lost life is a tragedy, and the well-being of our community is of paramount concern to the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office,” he said, “However, as the elected Sheriff, I have reservations regarding this order.”
In a video published by ABQ Raw, Allen said, “I hold my standards high, and I do not, nor ever will, hedge on what is right. I take my oath seriously.”
He addressed Grisham’s ban, saying, “The temporary ban challenges the foundations of our constitution, but most importantly, it is unconstitutional.”
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New Mexico Governor Grisham snapped back at Allen’s comments, saying, “I don’t need a lecture on constitutionality from Sheriff Allen: what I need is action,” KOAT noted.
She continued:
“What we need is for leaders to stand up for the victims of violent crime. We need law enforcement, district attorneys, public officials, school leaders, and state agencies to use every single tool at their disposal to stop this violence. Period.”
Grisham referenced numerous gun controls adopted during her time in office.
“We’ve given you the tools, Sheriff Allen— now stop being squeamish about using them. I will not back down from doing what’s right, and I will always put the safety of the people of New Mexico first.”
A reporter asked Grisham, “Do you think that criminals are going to hear this message and not carry a gun in Albuquerque, on the streets, for 30 days?”
Grisham responded, “Ah….no.”
Earlier this week, gun-control activist 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.”
X owner Elon Musk also responded to Grisham’s gun ban, saying she did so by “illegally” violating the Second Amendment.
“At risk of stating what should be obvious, deliberately violating the Constitution is next-level illegal. How soon can this person be removed from office?”
READ: New Mexico Sheriff REFUSES to Enforce Governor’s ‘Unconstitutional’ Gun Ban
