In the wake of a series of recent tragic shootings, including the heartbreaking death of an 11-year-old child outside a baseball stadium, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham took the controversial step of suspending the public’s right to carry firearms, either openly or concealed, for a period of 30 days.
Initiated as an emergency public health order, the suspension underscores the precarious balance between empowering governmental authorities to address emergent situations and upholding rights enshrined in the Constitution. The intertwining of gun crime with public health parameters has been seen as a substantial overreach, stretching the legal understanding of what can be construed as a “public health emergency”.
Even Governor Grisham anticipates legal repercussions stemming from this drastic move, a sentiment echoed by Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina, who has stated that he will not enforce the order. Medina’s stance is notable; the order is tied to a threshold for violent crime rates, with Albuquerque currently being the only city in New Mexico to currently meet the threshold.
This contentious move by the governor has drawn ire from several prominent individuals, including former Congressman Justin Amash, who did not hold back in expressing his views:
At the core of this debate lies the fundamental right to bear arms bestowed by the 2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Although legal interpretations have permitted certain limitations to this right, critics argue that the governor’s sweeping prohibition of public firearm possession ventures far beyond the bounds traditionally upheld by courts.
Moreover, this order might inadvertently penalize law-abiding citizens, stripping them of their primary means of self-defense, while criminals, predisposed to flouting laws, continue to wield firearms unabated. This creates a landscape where the innocent are left vulnerable, undercutting the very essence of the right the 2nd Amendment vows to protect — a right grounded in the principle of self-preservation.
While the pursuit of public safety, especially in times of crisis, is a noble endeavor, it is imperative to navigate this path with a measured approach that respects the Constitutional rights of Americans. It is incumbent upon leaders to find solutions to crime and violence that do not strip Americans of their ability to defend themselves.