New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has found herself facing a barrage of criticism from various quarters, including unlikely sources on the left, for her decision to ban law-abiding citizens from carrying guns in Albuquerque and the surrounding county for at least the next 30 days. Governor Grisham, a Democrat, signed an executive order declaring gun violence a public health emergency in her state.
On the following day, Grisham unilaterally suspended open and concealed carry laws in the Albuquerque area, a move that was immediately met with accusations of unconstitutionality and overreach. Governor Grisham herself acknowledged the potential legal challenges her order might face, signaling her doubts about its legality.
One unexpected critic of Grisham’s order was far-left anti-gun activist David Hogg, who stated that he supports gun safety but emphasized that there is no such thing as a state public health emergency exception to the U.S. Constitution. Even Representative Ted Lieu, a Democrat from California, expressed his opposition to the executive order, asserting that it violated the U.S. Constitution and that no state can suspend the federal Constitution under the guise of a public health emergency.
In response to Grisham’s order, New Mexico Republican state Representatives Stefani Lord and John Block announced their intent to push for the governor’s impeachment. Lord condemned Grisham’s attempt to impose a radical, progressive agenda on an unwilling population, emphasizing that restricting the rights of law-abiding gun owners wouldn’t deter criminals from carrying or using weapons, putting New Mexicans in danger.
Even X owner Elon Musk chimed in on the matter, stating that deliberately violating the Constitution is “next-level illegal” and questioning how soon Governor Grisham could be removed from office. Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky echoed the sentiment, characterizing Grisham’s actions as an escalation of the government overreach that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Grisham’s decision to curtail Second Amendment rights in her state has ignited fierce opposition from both the left and the right, sparking a broader debate about the limits of government power and the protection of individual liberties.
