Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen deems unconstitutional New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s 30-day public health decree prohibiting the issuance of firearm permits.
Michelle Lujan Grisham, the Democratic governor of New Mexico, faces widespread opposition from state law enforcement officials in response to her attempt to ban concealed and open carry permits.
Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen referred to Grisham’s 30-day “public health order” as “unconstitutional” during a press conference this week, despite standing alongside the governor during the policy’s announcement.
“It’s unconstitutional, so there’s no way we can enforce that order,” the sheriff stated at a press conference on Monday. “This ban does nothing to curb gun violence.”
“We must always consider that we are not only protecting the Second Amendment but also that our community is rife with violence. Let me be clear: I have high standards, and I do not and will never compromise on what is right.
In response to recent gun violence, Grisham issued an emergency order on Friday suspending the right to carry firearms in public in Albuquerque and the surrounding Bernalillo County for at least 30 days.
The governor stated that she anticipates legal challenges to the order, but she felt compelled to act in response to recent gun-related fatalities, such as the shooting death of an 11-year-old boy outside a minor league baseball stadium this week.
The governor of New Mexico has temporarily suspended open and concealed carry across Albuquerque, citing ‘violence at every turn’
The ban extends to open and concealed carry in the vast majority of public places, with the exception of police and licensed security guards. The restriction is tied to a threshold for violent crime rates, which only the Albuquerque metropolitan area meets.
Allen claims he exerted pressure against the public health order, stating, “[Grisham] knew we in law enforcement did not agree with the order, and as a result, this was solely her decision.”
Following Allen’s press conference, Grisham responded by ordering the law enforcement official to “stop being hesitant” about enforcing the order.
“Violates the U.S. Constitution,” say liberals of the New Mexico governor’s gun ban.
“I don’t need a lecture on the Constitution from Sheriff Allen; I need action,” Grisham said in response to Allen’s statement. “Leaders are required to advocate for victims of violent crime. We require law enforcement, district attorneys, public officials, school administrators, and state agencies to utilize every available resource to end this violence. The end.”
She continued, “We’ve provided you with the tools, Sheriff Allen; cease being hesitant to use them. I will never back down from doing what is right, and the safety of the citizens of New Mexico will always come first.”
Caroline Sweeney, the governor’s spokesperson, stated that violators could face civil penalties and a fine of up to $5,000. The governor stated that state police are responsible for enforcing the order, but she acknowledged that not all law enforcement officials concur with it, including the district attorney for the Albuquerque area.
When issuing the order, Lujan Grisham cited several recent shootings in Albuquerque, including the Wednesday shooting outside the Albuquerque Isotopes’ field in which 11-year-old Froyland Villegas was killed and a woman was critically injured. The two were inside a vehicle that was sprayed with bullets as people were exiting the game.
On August 13, 5-year-old Galilea Samaniego was shot and killed while sleeping in her home by four teenagers who entered a mobile home community in two stolen vehicles and opened fire. The girl was shot in the cranium and died at the hospital from her injuries.
In August, a 14-year-old boy shot and killed his 13-year-old friend Amber Archuleta at their residence in Taos County, New Mexico, using his father’s gun.
