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New Mexico sheriff says he won't enforce 'unconstitutional' gun ban: 'Protecting the Second Amendment'
[FoxNews] Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen calls New Mexico Gov Michelle Lujan Grisham's 30-day public health order banning the issue of firearm permits 'unconstitutional’Democratic New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is facing widespread pushback from state law enforcement officials following her attempt to ban concealed and open carry permits. Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen described Grisham's 30-day "public health order" as "unconstitutional" during a press conference this week despite standing beside the governor during her rollout of the policy. "It’s unconstitutional, so there’s no way we can enforce that order," the sheriff said in a Monday news conference. "This ban does nothing to curb gun violence." Grisham issued an emergency order on Friday suspending the right to carry guns in public across Albuquerque and the surrounding Bernalillo County for at least 30 days following recent instances of gun violence. The governor said she expects the order to face legal challenges, but she believes she needed to act in response to recent gun-related deaths, such as an 11-year-old boy who was shot and killed outside a minor league baseball stadium earlier this week. The suspension was classified as an emergency public health order and applies to open and concealed carry in most public places, excluding police and licensed security guards. The restriction is connected to a threshold for violent crime rates met only by the Albuquerque area. Allen claims he pressured against the public health order, saying "[Grisham] knew we as law enforcement did not agree with the order, and as a result, this was solely her decision." Violators could face civil penalties and a fine of up to $5,000, according to the governor's spokeswoman Caroline Sweeney. The governor said state police are responsible for enforcing the order, but she acknowledged not all law enforcement officials – including the district attorney for the Albuquerque area – agree with it. Related: Bernalillo County: 2023-01-07 4 Albuquerque politicians targeted by gunfire in last 30 days Bernalillo County: 2016-11-24 New Mexico Business: If You Support Trump, Get Out Bernalillo County: 2015-01-14 Two Albuquerque Police Officers Charged in Fatal Shooting Last Year of Mentally Ill Homeless Man Related: Michelle Lujan Grisham: 2023-09-09 New Mexico Democrat governor issues public health order temporarily suspending open and conceal carry laws in Albuquerque Michelle Lujan Grisham: 2022-10-07 Crime boomerangs on Democrat as New Mexico governor pleads with feds for more law enforcement Michelle Lujan Grisham: 2022-05-29 Forest Service says it started all of New Mexico's largest wildfire Posted by: Skidmark 2023-09-12 |
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