ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO — A U.S. District Judge, David Urias, recently overturned a section of an emergency public health order instituted by New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, which temporarily halted the open and concealed carry of firearms in Albuquerque’s vicinity. The governor had established this directive in reaction to a spike in violent crimes, particularly incidents involving the deaths of children. She emphasized the urgency to act, although recognizing that law-breakers might not adhere to the new regulations.
Despite the initiative, intended to curb violence, it faced stark opposition. Gun rights activists rapidly contested the order in court, claiming it violated the Second Amendment rights. Moreover, the enforcement of this order faced hurdles as both the local sheriff and the chief of police in Albuquerque were unwilling to implement it. Even within the legislative assembly, there’s a growing chorus from the Republican faction urging for impeachment procedures against the governor, accusing her of overstepping her executive powers, reminiscent of her stringent approach during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. This development represents another challenge to the governor’s crisis management strategy, with potential implications for her political standing.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued a statement following the ruling:
“Today a judge temporarily blocked sections of our public health order but recognized the significant problem of gun violence in this state, particularly involving the deaths of children.
“I refuse to be resigned to the status quo. As governor, I see the pain of families who lost their loved ones to gun violence every single day, and I will never stop fighting to prevent other families from enduring these tragedies.
“To be clear: gun violence and drug abuse are acute threats to public health and safety in this state. We will stay the course by increasing State Police presence in Bernalillo County, arresting the hundreds of violent offenders with outstanding warrants still on our streets, and directing our healthcare system to immediately expand capacity to accept persons experiencing drug addiction and homelessness.
“Over the past four days, I’ve seen more attention on resolving the crisis of gun violence than I have in the past four years. Now is the time to bring clarity of purpose: New Mexicans must again feel safe walking home from school, driving to the grocery store, or leaving their hometown baseball stadium.
“Who will stand up to protect families and children? I will.
“And I call on leaders across the state, from local law enforcement to the Legislature to mayors and county commissioners: Stand with me to enact solutions that save people’s lives. Throwing up our hands is not an option.”
