CNN anchor Poppy Harlow forced Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM) into a corner over her recent order calling gun violence a “public health” crisis and effectively suspending 2nd Amendment rights in Albuquerque and the surrounding county.
Grisham has taken lot of backlash over her order — even from the left — with many saying that there is no “public health” exception to the rights protected by the U.S. Constitution. Harlow took a different tack, however, pressing Grisham on how she might respond if someone might use the same tactics to push an agenda that she did not agree with.
WATCH:
"What if a Republican governor of a state declares a health emergency and unilaterally outlaws abortion in that state, where the legislature has not done so by statute — following your logic, would that also be sound?"
New Mexico Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham: No
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) September 12, 2023
“Are you overreaching?” Harlow asked, going on to pose a “hypothetical” situation in which the roles might be reversed.
“You’re a Democratic governor who’s doing this. What if a Republican governor of a state declares a health emergency and unilaterally outlaws abortion in that state, where the legislature has not done so by statute,” Harlow posited. “Following your logic, would that also be sound?”
“Ah – in this situation, honestly, I don’t think so, but that is what’s happening in this country,” Grisham replied.
During the same interview, Grisham pushed back on critics who called her order unconstitutional, saying, “It’s not for police to tell me what’s constitutional or not. They haven’t supported one, not one gun violence effort in the State of New Mexico including domestic violence protections, universal background checks.”
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Grisham further defended her action by saying that her order was a “suspension” rather than an outright ban.
Despite the fact that many on the left would like to see much tighter gun control regulations, many — including Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) and March for Our Lives activist David Hogg — have come out in opposition to Grisham’s order.
“I support gun safety but there is no such thing as a state public health emergency exception to the U.S. Constitution,” Hogg said.
I support gun safety but there is no such thing as a state public health emergency exception to the U.S. Constitution. https://t.co/6GfbOZLc7g
— David Hogg 🟧 (@davidhogg111) September 9, 2023
Lieu’s response was almost identical: “I support gun safety laws. However, this order from the Governor of New Mexico violates the U.S. Constitution. No state in the union can suspend the federal Constitution. There is no such thing as a state public health emergency exception to the U.S. Constitution.”
I support gun safety laws. However, this order from the Governor of New Mexico violates the U.S. Constitution. No state in the union can suspend the federal Constitution. There is no such thing as a state public health emergency exception to the U.S. Constitution. https://t.co/kOhLMtaOl2
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) September 9, 2023