New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s (D) ban on carrying handguns in public in cities such as Albuquerque has sparked outrage among gun rights activists who say the move is in violation of the U.S. Constitution.
Grisham issued her order on Friday, September 8, banning handguns carried openly or concealed in public. The ban applies to concealed carry permit holders who are no longer allowed to carry their guns for self-defense.
In response to the order, gun control advocate David Hogg used a post on X to slam Grisham, saying, “I support gun safety but there is no such thing as a state public health emergency exception to the U.S. Constitution.”
Notably, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk also shared his thoughts, taking to X to say, “At risk of stating what should be obvious, deliberately violating the Constitution is next-level illegal. How soon can this person be removed from office?”
In response to the backlash, the National Association for Gun Rights quickly filed suit against Grisham’s order.
Meanwhile, Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman said Saturday that he will not be enforcing Grisham’s ban on concealed carry. “As an officer of the court, I cannot and will not enforce something that is clearly unconstitutional,” Bregman said.
The governor’s order has been met with considerable criticism from other lawmakers. New Mexico House Floor Leader Rod Montoya (R), speaking in opposition to the order, said, “We are limiting people’s civil liberties and constitutional rights in order to adhere to an executive order that is unconstitutional on its face.”
It remains to be seen what the outcome of the legal battle will be, but many gun rights activists remain hopeful that the courts will side with them and strike down Grisham’s ban on concealed carry.
In the meantime, gun owners should continue to exercise caution and abide by all federal and state laws while carrying their firearms.
I support gun safety but there is no such thing as a state public health emergency exception to the U.S. Constitution. https://t.co/6GfbOZLc7g
— David Hogg 🟧 (@davidhogg111) September 9, 2023
