New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced in a media briefing Friday afternoon that open and conceal carry laws in the city of ...
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced in a media briefing Friday afternoon that open and conceal carry laws in the city of Albuquerque and the surrounding county were being suspended for 30 days.
The Democrat said that several incidents involving young children being shot led her to announce the emergency public health order.
Senate Republican Leader Greg Baca lambasted the governor for the order.
"A child is murdered, the perpetrator is still on the loose, and what does the governor do? She throws the mayor of Albuquerque under the bus and then targets law-abiding citizens with an unconstitutional gun order," said Baca.
"Tragically, this is what we have come to expect from an administration that refuses to take responsibility for the crime epidemic gripping our state. It is time for the governor to stop pointing fingers and admit that her soft-on-crime approach has failed and put the safety of all New Mexicans in great jeopardy.”
Grisham acknowledged that the order was likely to be challenged in court.
"I've warned everyone that we expect a challenge, probably while you're writing this, we're getting a challenge, and that's the way it should work," the governor said.
"But I have to take a tough direct stand or basically I'm just ignoring the fact that we lost an 11-year-old. Another child," she emphasized.
The governor referred to the shooting death of Froyland Villegas outside of the stadium for the Isotopes, a minor league baseball team.
"Gun violence is killing between 2 and 3 children every month in NM - every single one of these deaths is unconscionable and they must stop," she added on social media.
The public health order does not apply to law enforcement officers or licensed security officers, nor does it impact private property, firing ranges or licensed firearm dealers.
Lujan Grisham said the suspension of gun rights will be re-considered after 30 days.
Here's a local news report about the development:
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