New Mexico renews ‘public health emergency’ on guns

New Mexico officials Friday renewed an order declaring gun violence a “public health emergency” and mandating several anti-gun measures.

According to the public health order signed by New Mexico Health Secretary Patrick Allen, “gun violence and substance abuse currently constitute statewide public health emergencies.” Noting that the Health Department possesses “inherent constitutional police powers . . . to preserve and promote public health and safety,” the order prohibits civilians from carrying firearms near public parks and playgrounds in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County.

Other anti-gun measures in the order include monthly inspections of licensed firearms dealers across the state and the implementation of gun buyback programs in Albuquerque, Las Cruces, and Espanola.

New Mexico’s Public Health Emergency Response Act extends “special powers” to the governor and allows for the isolation and quarantining of taxpayers.

“The fact of the matter is that New Mexicans are still being threatened, injured and killed by firearms. Just yesterday, two guns were found in the possession of students at an Albuquerque high school, and while thankfully no one was hurt, these incidents have profound psychological effects on our children,” said New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham in a statement. “The last four weeks have clearly demonstrated the impact we can have on violent crime when we work in better coordination, but the situation remains dire. We’re not letting up, and I’m continuing to make investments that drive down violence in our communities and protect our children.” 

The edict comes one month after Lujan Grisham signed an executive order declaring a 30-day public health emergency following the fatal shooting of an 11-year-old boy. The emergency was used to justify an unconstitutional sweeping ban on firearms which was quickly blocked by a US district court judge.

Rather than rescind the ban, however, Lujan Grisham “updated” the order to restrict firearms at parks and playgrounds in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County. 

While she admitted from the start that her order stood on shaky legal footing, Lujan Grisham claimed that no constitutional right is absolute, and neither is her oath to uphold the Constitution.

After Lujan Grisham issued the order, New Mexicans openly defied it by carrying their firearms. Michigan-based ammunition manufacturer FeniX Ammunition responded to the ban by offering New Mexican customers free shipping with the promo code “F*ck Off, Gov. Grisham.”

Law enforcement authorities refused to enforce the “public health order” saying it violates the Second Amendment. Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina vowed not to implement the ban, and Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen also promised not to enforce the order which he called “unconstitutional.”

New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez, a Democrat like Lujan Grisham, also refused to defend the order in court stating it violated the Constitution.