New Mexico Gun Ban: Judge Halts 30-Day Gun Restriction in Albuquerque Amid Backlash
A federal judge has issued a temporary halt to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's 30-day New Mexico gun ban in the Albuquerque area, according to POLITICO.
The order, issued in response to recent shootings, faced criticism from Republicans and Democrats, who raised concerns about its impact on gun rights and questioned its constitutionality.
Local law enforcement officials had indicated they would not enforce the order, and the state's Democratic attorney general, Raúl Torrez, had expressed his inability to legally defend it while questioning its effectiveness.
The governor had based the ban on a public health emergency declaration related to gun violence.
During the hearing, US District Judge David H. Urias, appointed by President Joe Biden, suggested that multiple Supreme Court precedents on the Second Amendment indicated that the governor's order could harm citizens' exercise of their gun rights.
As a result, he issued a temporary stay of the ban, emphasizing that this action did not rule on its merits.
The ruling temporarily lifts the Albuquerque gun ban while the legal proceedings continue.
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Restraining Order to Block New Mexico Gun Ban Takes Effect Until October 3
During a motion hearing in Albuquerque, a judge granted a temporary restraining order blocking the enforcement of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's gun ban until October 3, per ABC News.
The ruling was in response to concerns that the order conflicted with the Second Amendment, and it was welcomed by Senate Republican leader Greg Baca, who criticized the governor's actions.
Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen had already stated that his office would not enforce the ban, and two Republican state representatives, John Block and Stefani Lord, called for the governor to face impeachment over the orders.
The ruling reflects the ongoing debate over state gun rights and public safety measures.
New Mexico Gun Ban Faces Barrage of Legal Challenges
The governor's gun ban order in New Mexico has sparked numerous legal challenges, with advocates for gun rights filing lawsuits in the US District Court in Albuquerque, claiming civil rights violations under the US Constitution's Second Amendment, AP reports.
In addition to legal challenges, some Republicans in the legislative majority have called for impeachment proceedings against Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham over the order.
Despite protests and legal action, Governor Lujan Grisham has remained defiant, pushing the boundaries of her executive authority.
The order, which suspended open and concealed carry of firearms in Bernalillo County, where Albuquerque is located, has drawn opposition from various groups, including mothers and military veterans.
Many have expressed concerns about their ability to protect themselves in a city that has experienced incidents of violence.
New Mexico is an open carry state, so the governor's order impacted anyone in Bernalillo County who could legally own a gun, with some exceptions.
The New Mexico gun ban led to debates over public safety, individual rights, and the role of executive orders in addressing gun violence.
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This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Bert Hoover
WATCH: New Mexico governor orders temporary ban on carrying guns in public - From Good Morning America
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