On Friday, New Mexico’s Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham updated her previous public health mandate. Initially, it proposed a temporary prohibition on carrying guns throughout Albuquerque and Bernalillo County. The modified order now restricts individuals from possessing firearms only in parks and playground areas. This change followed a federal court ruling which found certain parts of the initial order unconstitutional.
U.S. District Court Judge David Urias, appointed by President Biden, highlighted during a hearing on Wednesday that the directive went against the Constitution. He stated, “Infringing on a constitutional right, even briefly, undeniably results in significant harm.” A temporary injunction set by the judge will stay in place until at least October 3rd, the date for the subsequent hearing.
The updated mandate clarifies that police officers, security personnel, and active military members are not subject to this restriction.
Lujan Grisham expressed her dedication, stating, “My commitment is unwavering to deploy all means possible to address this public health crisis promptly. I won’t settle for the current situation; it’s time for a change.”
In light of the court’s decision, she remarked, “While the court temporarily halted parts of our health mandate today, the severe issue of gun violence in our state, especially affecting children, was acknowledged. As the state’s leader, I witness the anguish of families devastated by gun-related incidents daily. My fight to shield other families from such pain will never wane.”
She continued, “In recent days, I’ve observed a renewed focus on tackling the gun violence issue, more than I’ve seen in the past several years. The objective now is clear: New Mexicans should be able to feel safe in their daily activities, be it walking back from school, shopping, or attending local sports events. I urge all leaders, from local police, legislators, to city and county officials, to join me in implementing life-saving measures. Simply giving up is not the answer.”
The initial health directive was met with resistance from various quarters, including two Republican state representatives who suggested the governor’s impeachment.
