New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has come under fire for her recently imposed 30-day ban on the open and concealed carrying of guns in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County. Grisham’s executive order came in response to an outbreak of gun violence in the state that resulted in the deaths of several children. While the governor has attempted to frame the issue as a public health emergency that required swift action, her unilateral decision to restrict gun rights in this manner has been met with fierce pushback from Republicans and even some Democrats.
“We also have, Governor, the Constitution … and you’re an attorney. Do you think you’re on solid constitutional ground?”
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham: “I have the right”
“But where is the right?”
Lujan Grisham: “We’ll see what all of these court actions do” pic.twitter.com/Rb3MeBZcVH
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) September 12, 2023
Now Grisham is facing even more scrutiny, this time from CNN anchor Poppy Harlow. During an interview on the show, Harlow drilled the governor on her decision to declare a public health emergency and implement the ban. Harlow repeatedly called out the governor over her authority to impose the gun restrictions and dove deep into the implications of such a move. Grisham, who is in her second term as governor, had no answer for many of Harlow’s questions and hypotheticals.
The governor’s action has already sparked a legal challenge from one gun rights group and it is likely that more lawsuits are in the pipeline. The governor is likely relying on the state’s voters to stand with her and her decision, but with the current pushback from both sides of the aisle, it seems unlikely that the ban will survive when it goes before a judge.
Whether or not the ban is eventually overturned, Governor Lujan Grisham’s decisions invite the question of whether or not the restrictions on the right to bear arms ought to be regulated more strictly in New Mexico. Gun rights are a hot-button issue nationwide, and the governor’s action is likely to spark a continued debate in the state over the issue. For her part, Lujan Grisham is likely hoping that her decision will be seen as a necessary step to combat the recent surge in gun violence in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County. However, it remains to be seen whether or not her move will be met with success.
