Anti-gun Democratic Governor of New Mexico Michelle Lujan Grisham ridiculed 29 sheriffs’ decision to stand up for gun rights.
Sheriffs from 29 of the state’s 33 counties signed resolutions opposing certain gun control bills in the state legislature such as red flag confiscation and universal gun registration. Under these so-called “sanctuary” resolutions, sheriffs are not obligated to enforce gun control laws that they deem to be unconstitutional. Similar measures such as “Second Amendment Preservation Ordinances” have been passed in Oregon in response to recent waves of gun control.
Grisham criticized this gun rights movement in a tweet storm:
“A few law enforcement officers in this state have been making noise about how they won’t enforce gun safety measures because they don’t like them. That’s not how laws work, of course, and it’s not how oaths of office work either.”
Grisham dismissed these resolutions as “NRA propaganda, rogue sheriffs throwing a childish pity party or bad-faith critics” and vowed to continue pushing for gun control.
However, gun control opponents have every reason to complain no matter how much Grisham downplays gun control’s impact.
Mike Herrington, Chaves County Sheriff, stood by his decision to uphold Second Amendment rights:
“I take an oath to uphold the constitution, and I enforce all lawful laws that do not infringe on my constitutional rights.”
So called “universal background checks” are clear violations of the Second Amendment that would lead to the creation of de facto gun registration. These laws also don’t help in battling crime and make it more expensive for disadvantaged groups to acquire firearms.
New Mexico’s local “nullification” approach is a viable strategy for Second Amendment supporters who live in solidly blue states. More often than not, politicians from major urban centers have much more pull than their rural counterparts, which leads to rural interests getting cast aside.
These Second Amendment preservation resolutions allow for rural areas to make their voices heard and let their political class know that they are completely out of touch.
More states should follow New Mexico’s lead and embrace these kinds of resolutions.