Resistance Erupts Against New Mexico Governor’s Temporary Public Gun Carry Ban

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s emergency orders to suspend public firearm carry rights in Albuquerque face resistance from gun rights groups, law enforcement, and elected officials.

New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has taken decisive action following the tragic shooting deaths of three children, including an 11-year-old boy who was fatally shot outside a minor league baseball park just last week. In response to these heartbreaking incidents, Governor Grisham has issued a 30-day ban on both open and concealed carrying of firearms in the state’s largest city and the surrounding areas within Bernalillo County.

This proclamation comes on the heels of Governor Lujan Grisham’s declaration of gun violence as a statewide public health emergency. She emphasized the alarming statistics, stating that “the rate of gun deaths in New Mexico increased by 43% from 2009 to 2018.”

In a passionate statement, Governor Lujan Grisham, a member of the Democratic Party, expressed her concern, saying, “When New Mexicans are living in fear, afraid to attend gatherings, send their children to school, or even enjoy a baseball game due to the constant threat of violence, something is fundamentally wrong.”

On Friday, the governor issued an order in Albuquerque and nearby areas, suspending the public carrying of firearms, both open and concealed, for anyone except law enforcement and licensed security officers. In response, the National Association for Gun Rights, along with a local member from Albuquerque, filed a lawsuit seeking to halt the implementation of Governor Lujan Grisham’s firearm-carry ban. They argue that it violates the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, stating that the ban infringes on people’s rights to keep and bear arms, and highlights the severe penalties for violating this law.

Governor Lujan Grisham emphasized that state police would enforce this temporary gun ban, and those found in violation could face fines of up to $5,000. She expressed her determination to combat gun violence in her state, declaring, “Gun violence is an epidemic in America, and I’m done letting it be an epidemic anywhere in my state. Enough is enough.”