New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) is facing potential impeachment as Republican state lawmakers Stefani Lord and John Block recently published Articles of Impeachment. These articles were specifically prompted by the governor’s gun control order.
The lawmakers wasted no time sending these articles to the House Government, Elections, and Indian Affairs Committee for further consideration. If approved at this stage, they will then proceed to the House Judiciary Committee for additional evaluation.
The governor’s gun control order specifically prompted these articles
“The rights of New Mexicans are not up for debate, and no matter how hard Lujan Grisham tries to violate the Constitution, she will never succeed,” Rep. Lord said in a statement last week. “I stood firm against her tyranny when she tried to use a Covid health order to take our guns, and I will continue to stand firm against her continued attempts to destroy our Republic.”
In September, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, declared gun violence as a public health emergency.
This decision was prompted by the tragic incidents of three young lives lost to shootings – a thirteen-year-old girl on July 28, a five-year-old girl on August 14, and an eleven-year-old boy.
“The action plan includes a suspension of open and concealed carry laws in Bernalillo County, temporarily prohibiting the carrying of guns on public property with certain exceptions. Exceptions include for licensed security guards and law enforcement officers. Citizens with permits to carry firearms are free to possess their weapons on private property (such as at a gun range or gun store), provided they transport the firearm in a locked box, use a trigger lock, or some other mechanism that renders the gun incapable of being fired,” according to the press release.
U.S. District Court Judge David Urias, who was appointed by President Biden, has granted a temporary restraining order against Grisham’s attempt to confiscate firearms.
Judge Urias ruled that Grisham violated the rights of law-abiding citizens to protect themselves.
Even members of her own party, including Attorney General Raul Torrez, have turned against Grisham! Multiple lawsuits have been filed challenging the constitutionality of Grisham’s executive order.
Attorney General Torrez had already informed Grisham that he would not defend her in this matter.
New Mexico AG Raul Torrez
“I am writing to inform you that my office will not defend your administration in the above referenced cases challenging the Public Health Emergency Order Imposing Temporary Firearm Restrictions, Drug Monitoring and Other Public Safety Measures (the Emergency Order) issued by the Secretary of Health on September 8, 2023,” Raul Torrez wrote in a 4-page letter.
“Though I recognize my statutory obligation as New Mexico’s chief legal officer to defend state officials when they are sued in their official capacity, my duty to uphold and defend the constitutional rights of every citizen takes precedence. Simply put, I do not believe that the Emergency Order will have any meaningful impact on public safety but, more importantly, I do not believe it passes constitutional muster,” Torrez added.
Torrez scolded Grisham for taking unilateral action to suspend gun rights.
“However, I encourage you to engage in a more thoughtful and deliberative process with members of the New Mexico Legislature rather than taking unilateral action that infringes on the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens while having little if any discernible impact on the underlying dynamics driving gun violence in our community,” Torrez wrote.
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