Democratic leaders in New Mexico did not support Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s order to ban gun ownership using public health provisions after the Daily Caller News Foundation contacted them for comment.
Grisham Announced he order on Sept. 8, banning the possession of firearms for 30 days outside of private residences in the city of Albuquerque and surrounding Bernalillo County. After the order was widely criticized by gun control advocates, as well as the state attorney general, who disputed To determine its constitutionality, the DCNF contacted New Mexico’s federal and state Democratic elected leaders to ask if they supported the measure, but all but two did not respond. (RELATED: Sheriff challenges Blue State governor’s ‘unconstitutional’ gun ban)
“[W]We need to focus on solutions that are constitutional and enforceable. That is what will save lives,” Democratic Sen. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, the state’s top U.S. senator, wrote in a statement shared with the DCNF. The order is widely considered unconstitutional and violates the Second Amendment.
BREAKING: New Mexico Attorney General tells Governor he won’t defend his gun ban, saying, “I don’t think it passes constitutional muster.” pic.twitter.com/ORat27wAvn
– Gun Policy Coalition (@gunpolicy) September 12, 2023
These concerns led Democratic Attorney General Raúl Torrez of New Mexico to decline to defend the order in court.
“I do not believe the Emergency Order will have any significant impact on public safety, but, more importantly, I do not believe it passes constitutional muster,” Torrez wrote in a letter to Grisham that was published on Twitter, now known as X. “The Emergency Order will be deemed to violate both the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution and Article II, Section 6 of the New Mexico Constitution.”
Torrez’s prediction proved correct after Judge David Urías of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico issued a ruling. mandate prevent the ban from coming into force, after five demands against Grisham for the order. “Plaintiffs have demonstrated a likelihood of success on the merits that their Second and Fourteenth Amendment rights to publicly carry a firearm for self-defense will be violated if the [order] “It is still valid,” Urías wrote.
Amid legal and political challenges, Grisham announced Friday that he was modifying his order. limiting its reach to public parks and places where children gather.
Aside from Heinrich, only Democratic Rep. Gabe Vasquez of New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District responded to the DCNF. His office shared a released statement signaling a departure from Grisham’s policy.
“We must address this crisis by keeping New Mexico families safe while supporting solutions that are constitutional and protect the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens,” Vásquez wrote, appearing to contrast the constitutional measures with the order. by Grisham.
However, Democratic Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen criticized Grisham for his decision, saying he was cautious about placing deputies in “civil liability” conflicts, while Democratic state Sen. Joesph Cervantes of The crosses called Grisham to rescind the measure.
“[T]”This type of approach leads to over-policing of our communities, racial profiling, and greater misery in the lives of people who are already marginalized,” an American Civil Liberties Union official wrote in a statement on the governor’s order.
Aside from Heinrich and Vasquez, no other elected New Mexico Democratic leaders responded to questions. The DCNF contacted Lt. Gov. Henry Morales, Sen. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico, Grisham’s cousin, and both members of Luján’s political family, Reps. Teresa Fernandez and Melanie Stansbury, the speaker of the state House of Representatives. , State Senator Javier Martínez, Speaker Pro Tempore Mimi Stewart, State Senator Majority Leader Peter Wirth, State Senator Majority Leader Michael Padilla, State House Majority Leader Gail Chasey, and State House Majority Leader of state House Majority Reena Szczepanski.
“In my opinion, no constitutional right, including my oath, is intended to be absolute,” Grisham had said. saying at a news conference after the order was announced.
Grisham did not respond to the DCNF’s request for comment.
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