(Albuquerque) The sheriff of New Mexico’s largest metropolitan area pledged Monday not to enforce an emergency order from the state governor to temporarily suspend the right to carry firearms in public in and around the city of Albuquerque.
“It’s unconstitutional, so we have no way of enforcing this order,” Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen said at a news conference. This ban does nothing to curb gun violence. »
Reactions were strong as soon as Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced the imposition of the order on Friday, saying at the outset that she expected legal challenges while the state police carried out the task. application of the decision.
“I welcome the debate about how to make New Mexico safer,” she said, while acknowledging that criminals would surely ignore her order.
PHOTO ALEX BRANDON, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham
Mme Lujan Grisham said she was forced to issue her order following recent shootings, which included the death of an 11-year-old boy outside a minor league baseball stadium last week. last week, the death of a 5-year-old girl who was sleeping in a trailer and the death of another 13-year-old girl.
The firearms suspension was issued as an emergency public health order, reminiscent of the hotly contested public health orders it has continually renewed throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
The governor said the gun ban would apply for 30 days to open and concealed carry in most public places and linked it to a violent crime rate threshold currently met only in the metro area. ‘Albuquerque. Police and security guards are exempt.
Violators could face civil penalties and a fine of up to $5,000. Under the order, residents can still transport firearms to certain private places, such as a shooting range or gun store, as long as the firearm has a safety lock. trigger, a container or a mechanism making unloading impossible.
Contests from all sides
Bernalillo County Attorney Sam Bregman, a Democratic Party appointeeme Lujan Grisham joined Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller and Police Chief Harold Medina in saying he would not enforce the order.
A gun rights group, meanwhile, filed a federal lawsuit seeking an immediate court injunction to prevent the order from taking effect.
State Republican lawmakers have also proposed initiating impeachment proceedings against the governor, a move that would require buy-in from Democrats, who control the state Legislature.
“My constituents have contacted me in droves, sending me emails and text messages to tell me that this is insane, this is horrible, this is unconstitutional,” denounced Republican Representative John Block.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) also expressed its own objections to the governor’s response to gun violence, expressing concern that it could lead to overzealous policing and invasion of privacy. .
“This type of approach leads to excessive policing of our communities, racial profiling and increased misery in the lives of already marginalized people,” said Lalita Moskowitz, litigation manager for the ACLU of New Mexico.
“The governor should follow evidence-based solutions, such as meaningful diversion and violence intervention programs, and address the root causes of violence,” she added.