New Mexico’s Tyrannical Governor Suspends Concealed Carry Under the Guise of Public Health Order
Jose Nino
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On September 9, 2023 New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham issued a public health order prohibiting the open and concealed carry of firearms in Bernalillo County public places for the upcoming 30 days. Bernalillo County is where Albuquerque is located in.
During a press conference held on September 8, Lujan Grisham announced that she was taking this major step after the shooting death of an 11-year-old on top of several other shooting incidents. She issued the announcement next to other New Mexico public officials.
The Governor asserted that she has the power to do so because “gun violence” allegedly constitutes a “public health crisis.”
The order is already being challenged on constitutional grounds. After all, the Bruen Decision of the summer of 2022, determined that individuals have the right to carry firearms outside of their homes. the order.
In addition to the prohibition on carrying firearms outside of an individual’s residence, there were several other measures introduced. One measure consisted of placing increased pressure on locally-owned and operated gun stores, and another measure tasked the state with carrying out monthly inspections of federal firearms licensees (FFL).
John Crump of AmmoLand News highlighted some of the measures being implemented:
- The Regulation and Licensing Division will conduct monthly inspections of licensed firearm dealers to ensure compliance with all sales and storage laws.
- The Department of Health, along with the Environment Department, will begin wastewater testing for illegal substances such as fentanyl at schools.
- The Department of Health will compile and issue a comprehensive report on gunshot victims presenting at hospitals in New Mexico, which shall include (if available): demographic data of gunshot victims, including age, gender, race, and ethnicity; data on gunshot victims’ healthcare outcomes; the brand and caliber of the firearm used; the general circumstances leading to the injury; the impact of gunshot victims on New Mexico’s healthcare system; and any other pertinent information.
- No firearms are allowed on state property, including state buildings and schools. This also includes other places of education where children gather, such as parks.
- New Mexico State Police will add officers in Albuquerque with funding for overtime provided.
- The Children, Youth, and Families Department will immediately suspend the Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative and evaluate juvenile probation protocols.
Law enforcement officials such as Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen stated the following with respect to the anti-gun order:
“…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.”
All in all, Lujan Grisham bit off more than she could chew. With countless other pro-gun organizations filing lawsuits against the New Mexico Governor, gun rights in the Land of the Enchanted will likely be secure for the time being.
Nevertheless, this latest episode shows the many dangers of allowing the gun controllers to have any breathing room politically speaking. Their tyrannical actions must always be fiercely resisted.
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