New Mexico Democratic Governor Michelle Grisham suspended the right to bear arms in Albuquerque’s Bernalillo County on Thursday, classifying it as an “emergency public health order.” To combat gun violence, Grisham announced that for the next 30 days New Mexican’s Second Amendment rights would be suspended.

Governor Grisham said that Albuquerque’s recent uptick in gun violence motivated her to declare the executive order, siting several incidents against children over the summer, including:

• The shooting of an 11-year-old boy on his way home from a minor league baseball game
• The shooting of a 4-year-old girl in her bed in a motor home
• The shooting of a 13-year-old girl in Taos County

According to Grisham, state police will be responsible for enforcing the restrictions by issuing civil penalties to violators and serving fines of up to $5,000. She said the state would have “to use the power of a public health [order] in a state of emergency to access different levels, different resources and different opportunities to keep New Mexicans safe.”

Unconstitutional? Enforcing Grisham’s order would put Albuquerque’s police department in opposition to the United States Department of Justice and, more importantly, the U.S. Constitution.

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.
—John Allen, Bernalillo County sheriff

Grisham said she expected this backlash following her announcement but welcomed “the debate and the fight about making New Mexicans safer.” In her view, the Constitution and the oath she swore to uphold it are not absolutes. No matter what the Constitution says, if she declares a public emergency, she may be granted additional powers that would allow her to enforce her restrictions.

Law under attack: The Second Amendment was created to protect Americans and their right to defend themselves, but Grisham’s order has temporarily revoked this right. This order has less to do with protecting New Mexicans and more to do with attacking the Constitution. Such “executive orders” that go against the Constitution are destroying the foundation on which America was built on.

The lawless mindset of radical Democrats is exposed by their stance on gun control. They hate the Second Amendment and want to destroy the Constitution. Every time there is a mass shooting, even before any facts about the situation come out, they immediately begin pushing for gun bans. … This attack on citizens’ rights and the rule of law is chopping at the pillars of our nation.
—Gerald Flurry, Trumpet editor in chief

Learn more: Read the section “The Second Amendment” in Chapter 2, “Law Under Attack,” in Mr. Flurry’s book America Under Attack.