New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued an emergency order on Friday, suspending the right to carry firearms for 30 days in response to gun violence.
Grisham’s decision came after citing the shooting deaths of three children from July through September, paired with two other mass shootings in the state.
Today I issued a 30-day ban on the open & concealed carrying of guns in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County. Gun violence is killing between 2 and 3 children every month in NM – every single one of these deaths is unconscionable and they must stop. https://t.co/KJdXUMBVaG
— Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (@GovMLG) September 9, 2023
“The time for standard measures has passed,” said Lujan Grisham, a Democrat. “And when New Mexicans are afraid to be in crowds, to take their kids to school, to leave a baseball game – when their very right to exist is threatened by the prospect of violence at every turn – something is very wrong.”
The firearms suspension applies to open and concealed carry throughout all public places in Albuquerque except on private property such as gun ranges and gun stores, and if the firearm is transported in a locked box or a trigger lock or other mechanism is used to render the gun incapable of being fired, according to the governor’s press release.
“No Constitutional right, in my view, including my oath, is intended to be absolute.”
Governor of New Mexico declares the 1st and 2nd Amendments do not exist in the case of an emergency, deliberately suspending the Constitution:
“If there’s an emergency and I’ve declared an… pic.twitter.com/KRQDvD7Vv0
— Valuetainment Media (@ValuetainmentTV) September 9, 2023
“If there’s an emergency and I’ve declared an emergency for a temporary amount of time, I can invoke additional powers,” Grisham claimed late Friday.
“While I understand and appreciate the urgency, the temporary ban challenges the foundation of our constitution, which I swore an oath to uphold,” Allen said. “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.”
Grisham acknowledged that not all law enforcement officials were on board with her decision. “I welcome the debate and fight about how to make New Mexicans safer,” she said at a news conference, flanked by leading law enforcement officials, including the district attorney for the Albuquerque area.
Keller, a Democrat, said in a statement the city welcomes “meaningful solutions and additional resources to fight crime in Albuquerque,” but said city police were “not responsible for enforcing the governor’s ban.”
According to the statement, the order is immediately effective. Violators could face civil penalties and a fine of up to $5,000.
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