Lujan Grisham rescinds radical anti-gun order as November election nears
Far-left, anti-gun Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced on Wednesday that she is allowing the expiration of her emergency public health order, which temporarily suspended the right to carry guns in public parks and playgrounds within the Albuquerque metro area, an attack on Second Amendment rights.
The initial order, issued in September 2023, created a firestorm across the state, leading to public protests, legal challenges, and impeachment articles introduced. Lujan Grisham’s action, which aimed to curb gun violence following several tragic shootings that claimed the lives of children, ignited a broader debate over the limits of executive power and gun rights.
“I have decided to allow the public health order to expire, but our fight to protect New Mexico communities from the dangers posed by guns and illegal drugs will continue,” the governor stated.
Her initial order attempted to suspend the right to carry firearms in most public spaces around Albuquerque. However, the sweeping gun restrictions faced intense backlash from both gun rights advocates and political figures across the spectrum. The order was later scaled back to apply only to parks and playgrounds, with an exception for a municipal shooting range. Despite these adjustments, critics continued to argue that the order infringed on the Second Amendment rights of Albuquerque residents, who depend on public carry for self-defense.
A major turning point came when a federal court judge, appointed by Joe Biden, struck down key parts of Lujan Grisham’s order, ruling it unconstitutional. The judge cited the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling, which expanded gun rights and set a new precedent that limited states’ abilities to impose restrictions on public carry. This court decision delivered a significant blow to the governor’s efforts and fueled further criticism from her opponents.
Amidst the legal battles, State Reps. Stefani Lord (R-Sandia Park) and John Block (R-Alamogordo) introduced articles of impeachment, arguing that her executive order was an unconstitutional overreach of power. They claimed that the governor’s actions violated the fundamental rights of citizens and set a dangerous precedent for executive authority. These calls for impeachment have grown louder, as critics argue that her attempts to curtail gun rights reflect broader concerns about the use of emergency orders to bypass legislative processes.
Despite the order’s expiration, Lujan Grisham has vowed to continue fighting “gun violence” through other means, insisting that “our fight to protect New Mexico communities from the dangers posed by guns and illegal drugs will continue.”
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