On Friday, it was announced that Papas Pawn & Gun in Grants, New Mexico was fined a hefty $60,000 fine, which appears to be the highest amount any business has been fined for defying Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s strict orders during COVID-19.
But according to the pawnshop, they have been practicing social distancing with their business and got fined regardless. According to pawn shop owner Diane Row, “On Monday, six or seven State Police officers surrounded my small shop, and it was really upsetting.” She continued, “That was a total show of force. They came to give me a court summons, treated me like I was a criminal, not a shop owner. Later I got a notice from the State that I was being fined $60,000. My husband is a veteran who is disabled and we don’t have any employees. This fine will kill us. It’s the end. I don’t know what to do.”
The Republican Party of New Mexico responded on Friday afternoon, writing, “This was a violation of Rowe’s civil rights and Constitutional rights and another unjust action against businesses trying to survive, both as a result of policies decreed by Gov. Lujan Grisham. Rowe believes her treatment is disgraceful and says other businesses who depend on local consumers will soon be obsolete.”
“The governor continues to show favoritism for big box stores, taking millions of New Mexico dollars out of state, and neglecting the little guy, local businesses who keep our local economies humming. The governor refuses to acknowledge that small businesses, like Papas Pawn & Gun, can provide and maintain social distancing and other health measures just like the national chains, that are packing shoppers in their aisles daily. This is blatant preferential treatment by the Lujan Grisham Administration.”
The news comes one day after Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham relaxed some restrictions on New Mexicans, but the news of Papas Pawn & Gun store refutes any progress the Governor may have made in easing New Mexicans’ fury with her administration and their handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Friday, Gov. Michele Lujan Grisham ordered a lockdown of McKinley County, San Juan, and interestingly, Cibola County also. McKinley and San Juan are being hit hard by COVID-19, but Cibola, with only 52 positive COVID cases. Cibola, where Papas Pawn is located in Grants, seems to be directly targeted by the Governor. Grants Mayor Martin “Modey” Hicks previously rebuked her strict stay-at-home orders, which appears to be adding to her retribution.
I suggest Pawn Shop owner contact Barr, who continues to say he will hold Governors accountable for their ridiculous restrictions.
And contact Barr quickly. This is a travesty.
What happened to due process?Received summons and judgement all on the same day?
No appearance before a judge to enter a plea?
So a pawn shop is a banking or loan establishment so it is considered an essential business. I’m not sure why they would be in violation of the stay at home order……….Although I am a conservative and not happy (being an understatement) with MLG this causes me pause as I know other pawn shops that are allowed to be open. I am also a small business owner that needs to be open ASAP to survive!!
The govenor is nothing short of a tyrant. The shop owners should contact Sheriff Mack of the CSPOA and seek his help in dealing with that 2nd amendment hating govenor.
He can be reached at:
CSPOA
PO Box 567
Higley, AZ 85236
602-268-9268
Ij.org takes cases like this pro bono.
Contacting Barr an excellent idea
Don’t pay it. Wuhan Lujan can’t do anything about it. Lawyers are waiting to sue this dictator. Keep fighting the good fight. Thanks to your husband for his service
Demand a court date as soon as possible, tell them you want it within the week, you have the right to a speedy
trial notify the US district attorney as soon as possible
$60,000 LMAO the Governor trying to get money to cover for her budget failed economy! I
Thank you for enforing the shut down
They made a decision to open and remain open after being given warnings but the police to close down. It’s a public safety order for a reason. So no they were not targeted they chose to continue after being warned. Isn’t it funny the mayor stepped back when the attorney general showed force. Gallup wasn’t closed down for 3 days to be mean but at the request of their mayor. McKinley county cases are growing at an alarming rate, San Juan and Bernalillo also have high numbers and Cibola county is right in the middle.
Really do you live in SAN JUAN COUNTY? Because while working in a convenient store there are NATIVES walking around in FARMINGTON NM drunk as hell, DRUGGED up and stinking like they never take showers or bathe and there is not a damn thing being done. So customers and workers have to put up wirh this shit but a BUSINESS being responsible can’t be opened??? You need to research ALL areas.
YAY you
Racism right there stereotyping
Let’s play the race card.. People that play that card are more racist than anyone else. And honey RACISM is what it is and if ppl are racist that’s up to them. NOT YOU OR ANYONE ELSE CAN CHANGE PPLS MINDS.
Grincham needs to GO and the sooner the better!! The was no reason to do what she did to those pawn shop owners, she is just on a power trip!!!
Stay home means stay home!! Stay closed, means stay closed!,!!! Give ta bill to your mayor.. you apparantly listened to him
And made a decision to continue to be open after being WARNED! There is no way to do social distancing in that store but even if you could safely open you were given warnings
Then don’t go in. Stay away from stores that you feel is unsafe. But if you know what 6 feet is the make sure your 6 feet away and if you can’t LEAVE.
Amen sister. Nobody could say that better ..
“They made a decision to open and remain open after being given warnings but the police to close down. It’s a public safety order for a reason. So no they were not targeted they chose to continue after being warned.”
Really?! How do you expect this couple to live off of $0.00? They don’t qualify for unemployment being that they are business owners, so are you suggesting that they steal instead or what? Unless they can find another job, which is hard to find right now, they only have two options, which are to either reopen their business or steal. Otherwise, they are going to be living on the streets. Which option would you choose, stealing?
They are pawn shop owners, they don’t need an income…. Over the years they have put hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars into their private banking accounts from buying and selling all the stolen property that is brought into them. They pay pennies on the dollar for it and turn around and sell it for astronomical profits, most times making 200 – 300 percent profit off each single item….. Don’t give me that crap they are now going to be eating stale bread and rancid water because they can’t afford anything….. B.S. !!!!!
FARMINGTON was over ran yesterday , All the big Box stores packed and the convenient stores busy as hell . So just watch the numbers climb to holy hell . Sam’s club ,Home Depo , Lowe’s , Albertsons , Safeway , Starbucks . Just drove by to see the ignorance DID NOT GO INTO ANY OF THE STORES !!!! The parking lots were over ran with Arizona and Utah l License Plates and I mean in an abundance of people in crowded and packed vehicles !!!!
Yes they were targeted as was Calibers, & other businesses. MLG has continued to pick & choose what business can or cannot be open. Her closure of state parks (now limited hours) was wrong, never mind that you could go to Federal Parks, BLM to hike, fish or camp. As for Gallup / Mayor / MLG the Indian reservations have to go to Gallup to fill up their water tanks, buy food, etc., so I do believe it was mean & spiteful. An EO is NOT law, it does contain rules to follow, one of which is that the Gov. cannot infringe upon our civil liberties. It is funny, that we have & will all pay for the numerous lawsuits being filed against her. Some of which MLG & Oliver have lost….
MLG is very vindictive!!
The OUTGOING mayor!!!! This woman is a virus!!
“They made a decision to open and remain open after being given warnings but the police to close down. It’s a public safety order for a reason. So no they were not targeted they chose to continue after being warned.”
Really?! How do you expect this couple to live off of $0.00? They don’t qualify for unemployment being that they are business owners, so are you suggesting that they steal instead or what? Unless they can find another job, which is hard to find right now, they only have two options, which are to either reopen their business or steal. Otherwise, they are going to be living on the streets. Which option would you choose, stealing?
There are two things this governor cares about, Power, and Control. Everything else, including the citizens of NM, are secondary and superfluous to her plans. wise up NM, Democrats have done nothing for the state for 50 years. Do you really think they will change now?
Will some mayor hicks is the ones telling them to go against the orders he should pay the fine!!
First off, thank you Mr. Row for your service to our country. I am so very sorry you and your wife were treated this way. I honestly believe that an attorney should be called in on this case. Your constitutional rights have definitely been violated.
I know for a fact this was not the only business open… but they were the only ones fined. What about the other 2 counties.. rio arriba and Sandoval counties… they are in direct line/connected to McKinley and San Juan… not just Cibola. The governor is having a hissy fit because people in Grants decided to defy her stupid orders that she cant not do. This is not law, was a special legislative session called in to make this a law… nope… did we vote to allow this to happen…. nope… this is not a law!!!!! She is using the state police at her whim.
The Department of Homeland Security declared gun stores should remain open, but the governor said they were to be closed. Yesterday they were allowed to be open by appointment only. Does the NM governor’s demand override Homeland’’s directions??
Mark Weber Mark have you seen that she fined A Pawn Shop Owner in Grants $60,000.00 for being open for business? This SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, is PRACTICING SOCIAL DISTANCING ENFORCEMENT, WHICH WAL-MART, TARGET, SMITH’S, SAFEWAY, LOWE’S, and The other BIG BOX RETAILERS SHE ALLOWED TO OPERATE DO NOT! This business owner only allows 2 customers at a time in her Store WHICH THE OTHERS DO NOT!
This Pawn shop owners husband is a DISABLED VET! It is the SOLE SOURCE OF INCOME for them, AND OUR GOVERNOR FINES THEM $60,000.00! To top it off she sent in the State Highway Patrol and according to the owner they surrounded the business to serve the COURT ORDER! THIS HAS GOT TO STOP!!
WE ARE NO LONGER BEING GOVERNED WE ARE BEING RULED BY A TYRANT THAT REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE NOT ONLY OUR CORRESPONDENCE, BUT THE CORRESPONDENCE OF THE LEGISLATURE AS WELL.
She thinks that OPENING a few Golf Courses will APPEASE the people I PRAY TO GOD THE PEOPLE IF NEW MEXICO ARE NOT SO STUPID THAT THEY CAN’T SEE THROUGH HER SHAM!
New Mexico you are no longer being GOVERNED you are being RULED, please wake up FLOOD HER OFFICE with many many more emails, Write your Senator’s and Congressmen LET YOU VOICE BE HEARD!
TYRANNY BREEDS REBELLION IT HAPPENED IN 1776 AND IT CAN AND WILL HAPPEN AGAIN IF SHE DOESN’T WAKE UP AND REALIZE SHE WORKS FOR US!
CB you are so spot on. Glad that there are good, smart people like you that sees like alot of the rest of us AMERICANS what this woman is sll about.
Cary Barton: I am wondering if it was actually a “court Order”???? In my studies it was always that we had three branches of Government, and only the legislature could make laws!! My question is “what law is being broken”? What is the statute? Is a mandate more of a suggestion? What you posted is right on the money. If things don’t change, I think we are headed for another civil war! Hopefully, I’m wrong.
This wouldn’t happen if they would follow the orders.
These are good people you all are throwing shade towards. They go above and beyond what most stores are willing to do to keep their customers happy, you know, the same stores you guys have no problems shopping in. They made a decision that their LIVELIHOOD was at stake and they did what they had to do to continue to operate. These people are the ones who would give you the shirt off their backs, after yours got dirty dragging their names through the mud.
These are good people you all are throwing shade towards. They go above and beyond what most stores are willing to do to keep their customers SAFE and happy, you know, the same stores you guys have no problems shopping in. You’ll not blink an eye to run into a big store but heaven forbid a business that actually serves the community tries to stay open… They made a decision that their LIVELIHOOD was at stake and they did what they had to do to continue to operate. These people are the ones who would give you the shirt off their backs, after yours got dirty dragging their names through the mud.
I feel that gov lujan is trying her best to stop the spread of covid. People are not listening that’s why it’s spreading maybe if the people listen NM would be up and open for business again. As for the Rowe’s they have money they ain’t broke I was a grants resident every one knows they have money he is a vet gets a check every month they could have waited until lujan opened it up again everyone is struggling they at least had income coming in. Most NM residents don’t have income coming in so at least they have a little money coming in. I understand that every small business is getting hit but they are following the rules if you don’t follow the rules then you have to take what comes next.
We all know Lujan Grisham is power hungry and doesn’t really care truly about the well being of Americans. Honestly we do not know what he and his family have as income coming in. All people affiliated with the government is going to protect this Piwer hungry governor. And I see alot of businesses that are not fully following guidelines because you cannot control what other people do..
CB you are so spot on. Glad that there are good, smart people like you that sees like alot of the rest of us AMERICANS what this woman is sll about.
Maybe you should not open your pawn shoo until youre supposed to. Can’t just do what you want.!!
We will not let the Government control or dictate our every move. The store is an essential store and HAD THE RIGHT TO BE OPENED.
MLG is a dictator in pantyhose! The woman is out of control with her quest for power. AG Barr needs to step him and shut her down. NOW! My friends and I refer to her as “Wuhan” Lujan.
All the ignorant Goyim slaves must obey your slave masters or they will threaten, tax, rape, coerce, fine, molester, imprison and kill you, sacrifice you as McDonald’s food, abort you or your children.