A Second Amendment representative explains why Michelle Lujan Grisham’s latest move could create more problems than it’s worth.
Over the past year or so, many states have been trying to implement limitations on concealed-carry of weapons, or even trying to ban weapons outright. And now, you can add New Mexico to the list.
Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has instituted a public health order right before the weekend that bans firearms in Albuquerque, meaning that people would no longer have the right to carry firearms in public. The order is currently only for 30 days, though Grisham has the right to extend it if need be.
A number of shootings have taken place throughout the city, including several events that have targeted Muslim men over the course of the summer. With that, Grisham believes it was time to act.
“When New Mexicans are afraid to be in crowds, to take their kids to school, to leave a baseball game — when their very right to exist is threatened by the prospect of violence at every turn — something is very wrong,” she noted in a statement.
But even with her so-called good intentions, Grisham is asking for a world of trouble with the ruling, as it runs smack dab into violating the rights of the Second Amendment.
Sheriff John Allen, who serves with the Albuquerque Police Department, made this clear with a statement of his own. “While I understand and appreciate the urgency, the temporary ban challenges the foundation of our constitution, which I swore an oath to uphold. I am wary of placing my deputies in positions that could lead to civil liability conflicts, as well as the potential risks posed by prohibiting law-abiding citizens from their constitutional right to self-defense.”
He continued, “This order will not do anything to curb gun violence other than punish law-abiding citizens from their constitutional right to self-defense. I do not want to have political violence towards my deputies or here in Bernalillo County. I have enough violence here.”
Joining us now to discuss this further is a representative for the Second Amendment Foundation, who firmly believes in the right for all citizens to bear arms. Their expertise will certainly be welcome in this matter.
Q&A:
- What do you think of Gov. Grisham using a public health order to execute a gun ban in the state of Albuquerque?
- What kind of legal trouble is this gun order asking for, especially since it straight-up defies the Second Amendment?
- Why do politicians believe such gun owners will actually have an effect on violence in their area, without realizing that such limitations might actually make things worse?
- Even Grisham’s own Sheriff, John Allen, believes that the gun order is a mistake. Should Grisham have considered other solutions before going for an all-out gun ban?
- What legal implications could come from this? Will it be long before we see lawsuits surrounding the matter?
- Where can we learn more about the Second Amendment Foundation and its members?
- Those interested can visit http://www.saf.org/.
Second Amendment Foundation spokespersons available to be your guest:
ABOUT CHRIS CHENG (In Pacific Time)
Chris Cheng serves on the advisory council to the Second Amendment Foundation’s Board of Trustees. He is the History Channel’s Top Shot Season 4 Champion and author of the book “Shoot to Win.” Cheng is an Asian D&I advocate in the gun community; a former Google employee who went from self-taught amateur to pro shooter.
ABOUT CAM EDWARDS (In Eastern Time)
Cam Edwards is the editor at Bearing Arms-dot-com and hosts the popular podcast Cam & Company that focuses on Second Amendment news and information. Cam is originally from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and has worked in radio, television, and online media for over two decades. He currently lives on a small farm with his family near Farmville, Virginia, and is a member of the board of Citizens Committee to Keep and Bear Arms.
ABOUT MARK WALTERS (in Eastern Time):
Mark Walters is a member of the board of directors for the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. As a nationally syndicated host of two talk radio programs, Armed American Radio and Armed American Radio’s Daily Defense, Mark is heard on hundreds of stations weekly across the country. Mark is the co-founder of Armed American News and the recipient of the 2015 “Gun Rights Defender of the Year award.” In addition, Mark Walters is co-author of three books, including Lessons from Armed America, Lessons from Unarmed America, and Grilling While Armed.
ABOUT LEE WILLIAMS (In Eastern Time)
Lee Williams is also known as The Gun Writer and has been writing about the Second Amendment, firearms, the firearms industry, and the gun culture for more than ten years. He is the Chief Editor of the Second Amendment Foundation’s Investigative Reporting Project and is a frequent contributor to Ammoland News and Armed American Radio. In addition, Lee serves as a board member of Florida Carry, Inc. He was also an editor for a daily newspaper in Florida. Before becoming a newspaper editor, Lee was an investigative reporter in three states and a U.S. Territory. Before becoming a journalist, he worked as a police officer. Before becoming a cop, Lee served in the Army. Lee has earned more than a dozen national journalism awards as a reporter and three medals of valor as a police officer.
ABOUT DAVE WORKMAN (In Pacific Time):
Dave Workman is an award-winning career journalist and senior editor of TheGunMag.com. He writes for Liberty Park Press, Conservative Firing Line, and is communications director for the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. He has authored Op-Ed pieces in several major newspapers, including the Chicago Tribune, Seattle Times, and Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and co-authored seven books with Second Amendment Foundation Alan Gottlieb. Workman’s beat is firearms, from politics to the outdoors. He is widely considered an authority on firearms, concealed carry, and gun politics.
The Second Amendment Foundation (www.saf.org) is the nation’s oldest and largest tax-exempt education, research, publishing, and legal action group focusing on the Constitutional right and heritage to privately own and possess firearms. Founded in 1974, The Foundation has grown to more than 700,000 members and supporters and conducts many programs designed to better inform the public about the consequences of gun control.
CONTACT: To schedule an interview, contact Jerry McGlothlin of Special Guests PR Agency at 919-437-0001 or geraldmcg@outlook.com.
