By Tony Defalco
New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham recently declared gun violence a public health emergency following the shooting death of an 11- year-old boy that was on his way home from a baseball game. As a result, the Governor signed an executive order that declared gun violence a public health emergency. Under this executive order both concealed carry and open carry of firearms in Albuquerque and the surrounding Bernalillo County would be suspended for a thirty-day period that would be renewable at the Governors discretion.
I was always of the opinion that a “Public Health Emergency” would fall under the guidelines of Medical Matters where “Gun Violence” would fall under the jurisdiction of Law Enforcement. Governor Grisham has declared that the Second Amendment is not absolute and she is acting in the best interests of the people of Bernalillo County. But denying the populous of Bernalillo County the god given right to protect and defend their life and that of their families has unilaterally violated their constitutional rights. Governor Grisham has stated that the “proposed suspension is to try to create a cooling off period while we can better address public safety and gun violence.”
From a citizen’s view point, in order to address both public safety and gun violence, the governor would have to address these crimes at its core and allow law enforcement to conduct the job that they have been empowered to perform by making arrests and have the District Attorney stand behind these arrests. Give these criminals a sentence that will make others stand up and take notice. By doing so, you will see a decline in gun violence.
Democratic governor Grisham is facing pushback of looming lawsuits from the National Association of Gun Rights along with locals and other Second Amendment Advocates. At a recent protest, locals stated that they will not comply with the Governors executive order. The local law enforcement has similarly stated that they will not enforce the governors ban. Even extreme gun control advocates have remained silent on the governor’s blatant executive overreach of power. Governor Grisham herself knows that criminals will not comply with this executive order but she hopes that the public will. The State Attorney General Raul Torrez does not support her executive order and with impending law suits and a possible impeachment trial, Torrez states that his obligation to represent Grisham is superseded by his commitment to uphold the New Mexico citizens constitutional rights. Governor Grisham’s executive order has been blocked by a federal judge and now she faces impeachment proceedings that has already been filed by her constituents.
This was an obvious attempt to push the limits of the gun control debate by Governor Grisham. It is apparent that Albuquerque was the testing ground to see just how far they are able push the lines of the gun control. If there is no political consequence for Governor Grisham’s actions, what is to stop the left from rolling this out on a national level starting with California, New York and Michigan? Why stop there? Before you know it, you will not be able to utter certain words or discuss specific topics in public. You only need to look as far as your history book to see the potential outcome. “They are doing this for your safety. It is for the good of the people.” Does this sound familiar? If it does not sound familiar, then you were not paying attention while you were in history class.