New Mexico’s Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham replaced a provision in her controversial gun order — banning firearms in the state’s capital city and surrounding areas — changing it so that the order was limited to temporarily suspending guns at parks and playgrounds.
“I’m going to continue pushing to make sure that all of us are using every resource available to put an end to this public health emergency with the urgency it deserves,” Lujan Grisham said in a <a href="https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2023/09/15/gov-lujan-grisham-updates-public-health-order-focused-on-combating-gun-violence/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news release</a> on Friday. “I will not accept the status quo – enough is enough.”
Grisham signed an executive order in early September declaring that gun violence was a public health emergency in the Democrat-controlled state, banning citizens from carrying firearms in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County for at least the next 30 days after a kid was killed during a road rage incident amid a spate of violent crime in the city.
Grisham said the updated order clarifies that the limitation of the open and concealed carrying of guns would not apply to parklands managed by the Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department or State Land Office. She also directed several state departments to help the Bernalillo County Metro Detention Center “ensure adequate staffing, space, and screening for arrested and incarcerated individuals.”
Within days of Grisham announcing the order, the governor faced national criticism, multiple lawsuits, and lost support from New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez, who <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrat-ag-rebuffs-nm-governor-refuses-to-defend-gun-carry-ban-in-court" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> he would not defend her administration in court.
“Though I recognize my statutory obligation as New Mexico’s chief legal officer to defend state officials when they are sued in their official capacity, my duty to uphold and defend the constitutional rights of every citizen takes precedence,” Torrez wrote, in part, in a letter. “Simply put, I do not believe that the Emergency Order will have any meaningful impact on public safety but, more importantly, I do not believe it passes constitutional muster.”
By the following week, a federal judge <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-federal-judge-halts-new-mexico-governors-suspension-of-gun-carry-laws" target="_blank" rel="noopener">granted</a> a temporary restraining order on Lujan Grisham’s suspension of gun carry laws.
U.S. District Court Judge David Urias, whom President Joe Biden appointed, said the order directly conflicts with the Second Amendment and only applies to Section 1 and Section 4 of the public health order.
Section 1 said, “No person, other than a law enforcement officer or licensed security officer, shall possess a firearm … either openly or concealed, within cities or counties averaging 1,000 or more violent crimes per 100,000 residents per year since 2021,” according to official government statistics.
Section 4 stated, “No person, other than a law enforcement officer or licensed security officer, shall possess a firearm on state property, public schools, and public parks.”
“They just want the right to carry their guns,” Urias said of the plaintiffs who filed the lawsuit against Grisham’s Sept. 8 emergency public health order.
State Sen. Greg Baca, the Senate Republican leader, reportedly applauded in a statement Judge Urias’ ruling, calling Grisham’s order “unconstitutional.”
“The governor’s malfeasance and utter disregard for the Constitution is alarming,” Baca <a href="https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/federal-judge-rules-against-gov-lujan-grishams-order-banning-guns-in-public/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>, according to local media. “By her own admission, she believes there are virtually no limits to the exercise of executive power. The Constitution says otherwise, and today, the court took action to remedy her blatant abuse of power against the citizens of New Mexico.”
Grisham <a href="https://www.krqe.com/news/politics-government/top-state-republican-senator-speaks-on-governors-updated-public-health-order/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> criticized New Mexico Republicans, claiming they have not offered solutions “addressing public safety” in the Southwest state.
However, Baca countered her response, reportedly saying that lawmakers brought forward several solutions during the last legislative session last year that supported denial of bail and increasing sentencing for repeat offenders as some solutions. But the bills never made it past the Roundhouse building.
“The focus has been, now, on guns,” Sen. Baca said, according to local media. “We need to be focusing on the individual who murdered this child. Where is the outcry to find this child’s killer? I have not heard that from the executive branch.”
Ryan Saavedra contributed to this report.

Michelle Lujan Grisham

New Mexico Governor Updates Controversial Gun Order To Albuquerque Parks, Playgrounds

Gun Control

New Mexico

Second Amendment

U.S.

A federal judge granted a temporary restraining order on Wednesday against <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/new-mexico" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New Mexico</a> Democrat Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham&#8217;s suspension of gun carry laws in Albuquerque and the surrounding area.
The order from U.S. District Court Judge David Urias, who was appointed by President Joe Biden, only applies to Section 1 and Section 4 of the public health order, according to <a href="https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/federal-judge-rules-against-gov-lujan-grishams-order-banning-guns-in-public/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">local media</a>.
“They just want the right to carry their guns,” Urias said of the plaintiffs who filed the lawsuit against Grisham&#8217;s Sept. 8 emergency public health order.
Section 1 said, &#8220;No person, other than a law enforcement officer or licensed security officer, shall possess a firearm &#8230; either openly or concealed, within cities or counties averaging 1,000 or more violent crimes per 100,000 residents per year since 2021&#8221; according to official government statistics.
Section 4 stated, &#8220;No person, other than a law enforcement officer or licensed security officer, shall possess a firearm on state property, public schools, and public parks.&#8221;
New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez, a Democrat, said this week that he would not defend Lujan Grisham’s controversial gun order in court.
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&#8220;I am writing to inform you that my office will not defend your administration in the above referenced cases challenging [your order],&#8221; Torrez wrote told Grisham in a letter. &#8220;Though I recognize my statutory obligation as New Mexico’s chief legal officer to defend state officials when they are sued in their official capacity, my duty to uphold and defend the constitutional rights of every citizen takes precedence.&#8221;
&#8220;Simply put, I do not believe that the Emergency Order will have any meaningful impact on public safety but, more importantly, I do not believe it passes constitutional muster,&#8221; he added. &#8220;I encourage you to engage in a more thoughtful and deliberative process with members of the New Mexico Legislature rather than taking unilateral action that infringes on the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens while having little if any discernible impact on the underlying dynamics driving gun violence in our community.&#8221;
This is a breaking news story; refresh the page for updates.

Biden Federal Judge Halts New Mexico Governor’s Suspension Of Gun Carry Laws

Biden Federal Judge Halts New Mexico Governor's Suspension Of Gun Carry Laws

Crime

Guns

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/new-mexico" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New Mexico</a> Attorney General Raul Torrez will not defend Governor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/michelle-lujan-grisham" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Michelle Lujan Grisham</a>’s controversial gun order, which is facing multiple lawsuits, in court.
Torrez told the governor in a letter Tuesday that he believed the emergency order, which temporarily bans people from carrying firearms in public spaces across Bernalillo County, violated the state and federal constitutions. Because of that, he said his office would not defend the governor against several legal challenges.
“I am writing to inform you that my office will not defend your administration in the above referenced cases challenging” Lujan Grisham’s order, Torrez wrote.
“Though I recognize my statutory obligation as New Mexico’s chief legal officer to defend state officials when they are sued in their official capacity, my duty to uphold and defend the constitutional rights of every citizen takes precedence,” his letter continued. “Simply put, I do not believe that the Emergency Order will have any meaningful impact on public safety but, more importantly, I do not believe it passes constitutional muster.”
Lujan Grisham <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/12/us/new-mexico-governor-gun-ban-albuquerque-explainer/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signed</a> an executive order on Friday that banned open and concealed carrying firearms in Albuquerque and the rest of the surrounding county. The governor enacted the order &#8212; to remain in place for 30 days &#8212; after a spate of shootings that killed several children.
“The tragic deaths of 5-year-old Galilea Samaniego in a recent drive-by shooting and 11-year-old Froylan Villegas in a road rage incident should serve as a wakeup call to everyone,” Torrez wrote. “I encourage you to engage in a more thoughtful and deliberative process with members of the New Mexico Legislature rather than taking unilateral action that infringes on the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens while having little if any discernible impact on the underlying dynamics driving gun violence in our community.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
BREAKING: New Mexico Attorney General tells the Governor that he won&#39;t defend her carry ban, saying &quot;I do not believe it passes constitutional muster.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/ORat27wAvn">pic.twitter.com/ORat27wAvn</a>
&mdash; Firearms Policy Coalition (@gunpolicy) <a href="https://twitter.com/gunpolicy/status/1701671575165050927?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Torrez, a Democrat, joins a handful of other officials in refusing to enforce or defend the order. Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller, also a Democrat, said in a statement to social media that the city’s police force would not be responsible for enforcing the governor’s order. Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen announced on Monday that he would not enforce the order either, calling it unconstitutional.
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Lujan Grisham responded to Allen in a statement to the <a href="https://nmpoliticalreport.com/2023/09/12/ag-says-he-wont-defend-lujan-grisham-administration-in-gun-order-lawsuits/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NM Political Report</a>, saying that her administration had “given you the tools, Sheriff Allen — now stop being squeamish about using them. I will not back down from doing what’s right and I will always put the safety of the people of New Mexico first.”
Lujan Grisham <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/its-not-for-the-police-to-tell-me-whats-constitutional-nm-gov-defiantly-defends-suspending-gun-rights" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in an interview on CNN: “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.”
The New Mexico governor has also taken criticism from prominent national progressives over her gun order, such as California Rep. Ted Lieu and gun control activist David Hogg. Each said that the governor’s order violated the U.S. Constitution.

Democrat AG Rebuffs NM Governor, Refuses To Defend Gun Carry Ban In Court

General

CNN anchor Poppy Harlow forced Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM) into a corner over her recent order calling gun violence a &#8220;public health&#8221; 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 &#8220;public health&#8221; 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:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
&quot;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?&quot;
New Mexico Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham: No
🤔 <a href="https://t.co/IOckoiXinw">pic.twitter.com/IOckoiXinw</a>
&mdash; RNC Research (@RNCResearch) <a href="https://twitter.com/RNCResearch/status/1701612169799016768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Are you overreaching?&#8221; Harlow asked, going on to pose a &#8220;hypothetical&#8221; situation in which the roles might be reversed.
&#8220;You&#8217;re a Democratic governor who&#8217;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,&#8221; Harlow posited. &#8220;Following your logic, would that also be sound?&#8221;
&#8220;Ah – in this situation, honestly, I don&#8217;t think so, but that is what&#8217;s happening in this country,&#8221; Grisham replied.
During the same interview, Grisham <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/its-not-for-the-police-to-tell-me-whats-constitutional-nm-gov-defiantly-defends-suspending-gun-rights" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pushed back</a> on critics who called her order unconstitutional, saying, &#8220;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.&#8221;
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Grisham further defended her action by saying that her order was a &#8220;suspension&#8221; 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 <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-mexico-governor-faces-widespread-backlash-over-ban-on-carrying-guns" target="_blank" rel="noopener">come out in opposition</a> to Grisham&#8217;s order.
&#8220;I support gun safety but there is no such thing as a state public health emergency exception to the U.S. Constitution,&#8221; Hogg said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
I support gun safety but there is no such thing as a state public health emergency exception to the U.S. Constitution. <a href="https://t.co/6GfbOZLc7g">https://t.co/6GfbOZLc7g</a>
&mdash; David Hogg 🟧 (@davidhogg111) <a href="https://twitter.com/davidhogg111/status/1700601787605266779?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Lieu&#8217;s response was almost identical: &#8220;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.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
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. <a href="https://t.co/kOhLMtaOl2">https://t.co/kOhLMtaOl2</a>
&mdash; Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) <a href="https://twitter.com/tedlieu/status/1700589909390835901?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The Permian Boom Collides With a Governor’s Climate-Change Push

CNN Anchor Forces NM Governor Into A Corner Over Order Suspending Gun Rights

2nd Amendment

Abortion

Media

Politics

After a New Mexico sheriff stated that his office would not enforce a segment of the Democratic governor’s order suspending the right to carry open and concealed guns publicly — echoing the state’s attorney general, who called the move unconstitutional — the governor mocked the sheriff, declaring “It&#8217;s not for police to tell me what&#8217;s constitutional or not.”
Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen stated, “In reference to concealed carry and open carry, the Bernalillo County Sheriff&#8217;s Office will not enforce this segment of the order. While I understand the urgency, the temporary ban challenges the foundations of our Constitution. But most importantly, it is unconstitutional.”
Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, interviewed by CNN’s Poppy Harlow, snapped, “It&#8217;s not for police to tell me what&#8217;s constitutional or not. They haven&#8217;t supported one, not one gun violence effort in the State of New Mexico including domestic violence protections, universal background checks.”
“You&#8217;re an attorney,” Harlow noted. “Do you think you&#8217;re on solid constitutional ground here?”
“Well, we&#8217;re going to see,” Grisham declared. “I mean, look, I wouldn&#8217;t do it if I didn&#8217;t think I had the right. I have the right.”
“But where is the right? Where is the right?” Harlow pressed.
“In the State of New Mexico, public — it&#8217;s a suspension. It&#8217;s not a ban. And we&#8217;ll see what all of these court actions do,” Grisham replied.
Then she tried to compare gun rights to abortion: “I got a Supreme Court that says my personal bodily autonomy can be restricted. And yet, NRA and other issues on the Second Amendment keep getting broadened.”
“The Supreme Court last year totally changed what we&#8217;re allowed to do, what you&#8217;re allowed to do,” Harlow stated. “And they say, unless you can base it in the history and tradition, you don&#8217;t have grounds to do something like this. The New Mexico constitution, I looked last night, Article 2, Section 6, says this, ‘No law shall abridge the right of citizens to keep and bear arms for security and defense. No municipality or county shall regulate in any way any incident the right to keep and bear arms.’ Are you not in violation of both the U.S. Constitution and your state&#8217;s constitution?”
“I don&#8217;t believe that we are,” Grisham sniffed. “And if that narrow reading of the constitution, which has been tested in the state, we wouldn&#8217;t have universal background checks, we wouldn&#8217;t have a waiting period, we wouldn&#8217;t have a red flag law, we wouldn&#8217;t have prohibitions for straw purchases. None of those would have been deemed constitutional. And today all of them are.”
“They were before the Supreme Court ruled that,” Harlow pointed out.
“But they haven&#8217;t been tested again,” Grisham argued.
“Are you going to keep doing this 30 days, take it up to the Supreme Court, or is this about a statement right now?” Harlow asked.
“Listen, I can make any number of statements and already have,” Grisham boasted.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
N.M. <a href="https://twitter.com/GovMLG?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GovMLG</a>: “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.” <a href="https://t.co/KE7YT0BS9B">pic.twitter.com/KE7YT0BS9B</a>
&mdash; Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) <a href="https://twitter.com/tomselliott/status/1701618616955806179?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2023</a></blockquote>
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‘It’s Not For The Police To Tell Me What’s Constitutional’: NM Gov Defiantly Defends Suspending Gun Rights

NM Gov Defiantly Defends Suspending Gun Rights

Constitution

Democrat

governor

Gun Rights

New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham faced intense backlash, including from leftists, for banning law abiding people from being able to carry guns in Albuquerque and the surrounding county for at least the next 30 days.
Grisham <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-mexico-governor-suspends-peoples-right-to-carry-guns-in-albuquerque">signed</a> an executive order on Thursday declaring that gun violence was a public health emergency in the Democrat-controlled state.
On Friday, Grisham unilaterally suspended open and concealed carry laws in Albuquerque and the surrounding area. She said that she could further lengthen or renew her order — which was immediately slammed by many as being unconstitutional.
Grisham effectively admitted that her order might be unconstitutional when she conceded that she might not win legal challenges filed against the order.
Some of the criticism against Grisham came from an unlikely source: far-left anti-gun activist David Hogg.
&#8220;I support gun safety but there is no such thing as a state public health emergency exception to the U.S. Constitution,&#8221; Hogg wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
I support gun safety but there is no such thing as a state public health emergency exception to the U.S. Constitution. <a href="https://t.co/6GfbOZLc7g">https://t.co/6GfbOZLc7g</a>
&mdash; David Hogg 🟧 (@davidhogg111) <a href="https://twitter.com/davidhogg111/status/1700601787605266779?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Another leftist, Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA), also pushed back on the executive order.
&#8220;I support gun safety laws. However, this order from the Governor of New Mexico violates the U.S. Constitution,&#8221; Lieu wrote on X. &#8220;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.&#8221;
In New Mexico, Republican state Reps. Stefani Lord and John Block <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/new-mexico-republican-legislators-call-dem-gov-grishams-impeachment-gun-order-rogue?intcmp=tw_fnc">said</a> on Saturday that they were pushing for Grisham to be impeached.
&#8220;I am calling on counsel to begin the impeachment process against Governor Grisham,&#8221; Lord said. &#8220;This is an abhorrent attempt at imposing a radical, progressive agenda on an unwilling populous. Rather than addressing crime at its core, Governor Grisham is restricting the rights of law-abiding gun owners. Even Grisham believes this emergency order won’t prohibit criminals from carrying or using weapons; a basic admission that this will only put New Mexicans in danger as they won’t be able to defend themselves from violent crime.&#8221;
Block said that there was &#8220;no such thing as a state public health emergency exception to the U.S. Constitution.&#8221;
X owner Elon Musk responded to Grisham&#8217;s order by writing: &#8220;At risk of stating what should be obvious, deliberately violating the Constitution is next-level illegal. How soon can this person be removed from office?&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
At risk of stating what should be obvious, deliberately violating the Constitution is next-level illegal.
How soon can this person be removed from office?
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1700341554161053830?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) responded, &#8220;She’s nuts, but she’s taking what the tyrants did during COVID (forced jabs, travel bans, closed businesses, suppressed speech — with no laws passed) to the next level.&#8221;
Other notable responses included:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
“Emergencies” are vehicles that deliver tyranny. <a href="https://t.co/885ZGRSiFP">https://t.co/885ZGRSiFP</a>
&mdash; Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) <a href="https://twitter.com/BasedMikeLee/status/1700714360400961743?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
“Take action?” Your big city hand-picked DA refused to do just that resulting in a crime wave. Your big city mayor gave tax $ to Planned Parenthood instead of increasing protection of businesses begging for help — and then demanded biz pay more for protection. You’re a FRAUD. <a href="https://t.co/FfHmV62oWu">https://t.co/FfHmV62oWu</a>
&mdash; Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) <a href="https://twitter.com/DLoesch/status/1700961635991445583?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Governor Lujan Grisham either doesn’t understand basic civics or doesn’t care one bit about constitutional governance. In either case, she should promptly resign from office or be impeached. <a href="https://t.co/GLG32wW6fX">https://t.co/GLG32wW6fX</a>
&mdash; Justin Amash (@justinamash) <a href="https://twitter.com/justinamash/status/1701021945419219122?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
She does not have any governing authority to suspend any state laws, proven here by her very own usage of their definition. She should be removed. <a href="https://t.co/oRMfY0af4D">https://t.co/oRMfY0af4D</a>
&mdash; Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) <a href="https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/1700998344406179883?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2023</a></blockquote>
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US-VOTE-ELECTION-POLITICS-BIDEN-NEW MEXICO

New Mexico Governor Faces Widespread Backlash Over Ban On Carrying Guns

Ted Lieu

New Mexico Democrat Governor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/michelle-lujan-grisham" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Michelle Lujan Grisham</a> banned people from being able to carry guns in Albuquerque and the surrounding county for at least the next 30 days after a kid was killed during a road rage incident.
Grisham signed an executive order on Thursday declaring that gun violence was a public health emergency in the Democrat-controlled state.
On Friday, Grisham unilaterally suspended open and concealed carry laws in Albuquerque and the surrounding area. She said that she could further lengthen or renew her order — which was immediately slammed by many as being unconstitutional.
Grisham effectively admitted that her order might be unconstitutional when she conceded that she might not win legal challenges filed against the order.
&#8220;Now I am sure as I go through the rest of this, there will be a lot of questions about whether or not we think we have the legal right to do that. I am sure that before you write this, there will be a legal challenge,&#8221; she said. &#8220;And I can&#8217;t tell you that we win it given all of the different challenges to gun violence laws and restrictions on individual firearm access and control.&#8221;
https://twitter.com/SteveGuest/status/1700617778934276214
She was later challenged directly over whether her decision to unilaterally override laws was unconstitutional.
Grisham responded that her decision to declare an emergency gives her &#8220;additional powers.&#8221;
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&#8220;No constitutional right, in my view, including my oath, is intended to be absolute,&#8221; she said. &#8220;There are restrictions on free speech, there are restrictions on my freedoms.&#8221;
Grisham then spoke about the 11-year-old who was killed this week and others who have been killed in shootings.
&#8220;But wait a minute, you&#8217;re talking about crimes,&#8221; the reporter pushed back. &#8220;There are already laws against the crime. So how are their rights [inaudible] &#8211;?&#8221;
&#8220;But again, if I&#8217;m unsafe, who&#8217;s standing up for that right?&#8221; Grisham responded. &#8220;If this climate is so out of control, somebody should do something. I&#8217;m doing as much as I know to do.&#8221;
She was asked by a different reporter: &#8220;Do you really think that criminals are going to hear this message and not carry a gun in Albuquerque on the streets for 30 days?&#8221;
&#8220;Uhhh, no,&#8221; she answered.
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WATCH: New Mexico’s Democrat Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham shreds the Constitution while trying to strip her constituents ability to carry firearms. 
 <a href="https://t.co/UghVrZb6A2">pic.twitter.com/UghVrZb6A2</a>
&mdash; Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) <a href="https://twitter.com/SteveGuest/status/1700629453628436682?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Vice President Harris Holds Reproductive Roundtable Discussion

New Mexico Governor Suspends People’s Right To Carry Guns In Albuquerque

New Mexico Governor Suspends People's Right To Carry Guns In Albuquerque

President Joe Biden will stump for Democratic <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/new-mexico" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New Mexico</a> Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham ahead of her closely-contested race.
The White House announced Thursday that Biden would travel to New Mexico to attend events with Grisham on November 3. No additional details were given, but the events will occur less than a week from Election Day of the 2022 midterms; it also comes in the middle of a series of campaign events that Biden will attend in Florida and Pennsylvania. The news comes as a new poll showed Grisham trailing Republican challenger Mark Ronchetti.
Insider magazine politics reporter Bryan Metzger shared a screenshot of the White House&#8217;s official announcement. &#8220;On Thursday, November 3, the President will travel to New Mexico for events with Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and other state and local officials,&#8221; the announcement said. &#8220;Additional details to follow.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Biden going to *New Mexico* next Thursday <a href="https://t.co/EPIDgPrJEN">pic.twitter.com/EPIDgPrJEN</a>
— bryan metzger (@metzgov) <a href="https://twitter.com/metzgov/status/1585710720603283461?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 27, 2022</a></blockquote>
While the White House did not announce the specific reasons for the trip, the circumstances indicate that the White House is attempting to boost Grisham in the final days of the campaign.
Vice President Kamala Harris visited the state Tuesday to attend a fundraiser at the University of New Mexico, the <a href="https://www.abqjournal.com/2543226/vice-president-visits-nm-to-campaign-for-lujan-grisham.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Albuquerque Journal</a> reported. Biden&#8217;s visit also comes in the middle of two other campaign events that Biden will attend for Democrats in key races. Biden will attend a rally on November 1 in Miami Gardens, Florida, where he will stump for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist and Senate candidate Val Demings, the <a href="https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/elections/2022/10/26/biden-trump-miami-rally-crist-demings-rubio/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tampa Bay Times</a> reported. Then on November 5, Biden and former President Barack Obama will attend campaign events for Democratic Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro and Senate candidate John Fetterman in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Biden and Harris are also attending a fundraiser for Fetterman on Friday, <a href="https://www.axios.com/2022/10/24/obama-biden-campaign-fetterman-shapiro" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Axios</a> reported.
Biden&#8217;s trip also comes after a new poll from the <a href="https://www.thetrafalgargroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/NM-General-Poll-Report-1024.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Trafalgar Group</a> showed that Grisham is trailing Ronchetti in her re-election campaign. The poll showed that Ronchetti, a former weatherman for Albuquerque-based news station KQRE, leads Grisham by just over one point, 46.6%-45.5%; 4% of voters were undecided. Grisham is struggling from the fallout over her COVID policies; as well as <a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-new-mexico-campaign-finance-michelle-lujan-grisham-health-37c0fe2024e62fef22a9bea8c180c535" target="_blank" rel="noopener">controversy from 2021</a> in which she allegedly grabbed a gay male staffer&#8217;s genitals, then reached a $150,000 settlement with the staffer to quash claims of sexual harassment.
Ronchetti reacted to the news of Biden&#8217;s appearance on <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkRonchettiNM/status/1585723001936306176?s=20&amp;t=EuaNVjUSdo0B83qeJUdXow" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter</a>. &#8220;I look forward to Pres. @JoeBiden coming to New Mexico to campaign for @Michelle4NM,&#8221; Ronchetti said. &#8220;Biden-MLG policies have led to higher gas prices, open borders, and drugs in our neighborhoods. New Mexicans know how out of touch Joe Biden and MLG are with kitchen table issues.&#8221;
&#8220;Our campaign is excited to have President Biden come to town!&#8221; Ronchetti&#8217;s campaign manager, <a href="https://twitter.com/jeffglassburner/status/1585723497485021184?s=20&amp;t=XQ2JAXY6dIfI6rQd5l2-hg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jeff Glassburner</a>, added in a tweet of his own. &#8220;Can he stay in New Mexico a couple days and not just one?&#8221;
Republican Governors&#8217; Association spokesman <a href="https://twitter.com/willreinert/status/1585724493577695232?s=20&amp;t=iedOmxPXcsPAHypiZpj2hw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Will Reinert</a> said that Biden&#8217;s campaign stop was trying to fill an enthusiasm gap among Democratic voters. &#8220;A sign of a major enthusiasm gap,&#8221; he wrote. &#8220;@Michelle4NM thought she could win running on abortion &#8211; the 3rd most important issue to voters. @MarkRonchettiNM centered his campaign around #1 &amp; #2 most important issues &#8211; economy &amp; crime &#8211; and it&#8217;s paying dividends.&#8221;

President Joe Biden

Biden To Stump For Embattled New Mexico Governor As Poll Shows Her Trailing Republican Challenger

2022 Midterms

Elections

Joe Biden

Over 100,000 acres of land in four states has been burned by out of control wildfires, which are also connected to at least one death.
A total of 4,000 homes and 130,000 acres have been burned in fires that have spread through Nebraska, Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico. The number of fires in the region is “above normal” so far this year, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/24/us/wildfires-arizona-new-mexico.html">according</a> to National Weather Service Forecaster Corey Mead.
The lone death so far recorded was in Nebraska on Friday as winds again fueled fires <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/23/us/nebraska-wildfire-death.html">across</a> 12 state counties.
In response to ongoing fires, New Mexico Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham declared a state of emergency for several of the state&#8217;s counties on Friday. The affected counties were Colfax, Lincoln, San Miguel, and Valencia.
“These emergency declarations will deliver critical funding for communities battling and recovering from wildfires across New Mexico,” Grisham <a href="https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2022/04/22/governor-signs-emergency-declarations-for-colfax-lincoln-san-miguel-and-valencia-counties/">stated.</a> “The state is actively partnering with counties and municipalities to assist New Mexicans affected by wildfires every step of the way. I am keeping the firefighters working all across the state in my prayers, as well as the families affected by these fires.”
The executive orders from Grisham pulled in $2.25 million in disaster relief from the Department of Homeland Security to aid in reconstructing necessary infrastructure and other needs.
One of the fires in New Mexico came after winds took hold of a legally started fire and spread it around. Another of the fires, in the Calf Canyon area, burned down close to 54,000 acres and was still only 12% under control on Sunday.
“More than 3,400 homes in New Mexico were under mandatory evacuations and more than 3,000 homes were under voluntary evacuations because of the wildfires,” The New York Times reported. “Ms. Lujan Grisham said residents who were not under any evacuation orders should be prepared to leave because of the nature of the rapidly spreading fires.”
Winds also played a role in the fires raging across Arizona, which started late last week. Republican Governor Doug Ducey also <a href="https://azgovernor.gov/governor/news/2022/04/governor-ducey-declares-state-emergency-tunnel-fire-coconino-county">declared</a> an emergency for Coconino County.
Over 19,000 acres were burned and 260 firefighters called up to try to get the Tunnel Fire blaze under control.
“Our team is on the ground working with first responders to monitor the Tunnel Fire in Coconino County,” Ducey said. “As strong winds fuel fires across Arizona, we are doing everything we can to keep Arizonans safe. We pray for the safety of the responders and firefighters in Northern Arizona, and are thankful for their dedication to protecting the lives, pets and property of Arizonans.”
He added that his administration&#8217;s prayers were with those impacted by the fires, and noted that they would continue watching the fires and respond accordingly.

Firefighters Battle Biggest Ever Arizona Blaze

One Dead, 130,000 Acres Burned After Fires Blaze Through Four States

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New Mexico Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham registered to become a substitute teacher to address COVID-19 staffing shortages at schools in her state.
Grisham hopes to serve as a substitute in a Santa Fe area elementary school as early as this week.
The governor&#8217;s action joined 50 state employees as part of an initiative to support teachers that was announced last week in the state.
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Our schools are a critical source of stability for kids – we know they learn better in the classroom and thrive among their peers.
Today we announced our Supporting Teachers and Families initiative, supporting school &amp; child care staffing staffing and keeping school doors open. <a href="https://t.co/fE6XLfCigo">pic.twitter.com/fE6XLfCigo</a>
&mdash; Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (@GovMLG) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovMLG/status/1483920456428273667?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 19, 2022</a></blockquote>
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“Our schools are a critical source of stability for our kids – we know they learn better in the classroom and thrive among their peers,” Grisham said in a press release.
“Our kids, our teachers and our parents deserve as much stability as we can provide during this time of uncertainty, and the state stands ready to help keep kids in the classroom, parents able to go to work and teachers able to fully focus on the critical work they do every single day in educating the next generation,” she added.
Santa Fe Public Schools Superintendent Hilario “Larry” Chavez expressed his appreciation to Grisham.
“Santa Fe Public Schools greatly appreciates the STAF initiative by Governor Lujan Grisham, as this will be instrumental in helping us return and continue in-person learning by covering staff vacancies and reducing the stress on our remaining staff who have taken on additional duties,” Chavez said in the press release.
The initiative hopes to fill the gap as schools and child care centers deal with staffing shortages due to COVID-19.
Since winter break, around 60 school districts and charter schools shifted to remote learning. Since the beginning of the year, 75 child care centers have partially or completely closed due to staffing shortages, according to the press release.
In addition to personally registering to serve as a substitute teacher, Grisham has encouraged state employees and National Guard members to apply. The initiative also waves fees for substitute teacher applications until March.
&#8220;Over 900 substitute teachers are needed in school districts throughout the state. New Mexico leaders said Santa Fe Public Schools needs approximately 85 substitutes,&#8221; <a href="https://www.koat.com/article/new-mexico-substitutes-schools-state-workers-covid/38818718#" target="_blank" rel="noopener">KOAT-7 TV</a> reported.
The news comes as, &#8220;New Mexico&#8217;s health department reported 6,198 new COVID-19 cases and a seven-day positivity rate of 29 percent as the state as seen a surge in infections fueled by the highly contagious omicron variant,&#8221; <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/590994-new-mexico-governor-becomes-substitute-teachers-amid-school-staffing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Hill</a> reported.
Despite the governor&#8217;s emphasis on education, Grisham was criticized by many parents last April over her school mask mandate. One school district made headlines for unanimously rejecting the mandate, as <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nm-school-board-votes-5-0-to-buck-governors-masking-mandate-despite-threats-of-removal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Wire</a> previously reported:
<blockquote>The school board of Floyd Municipal Schools in New Mexico voted unanimously Monday evening to reject Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s COVID-19 mandates for the next school year.
Grisham’s administration had previously threatened the Floyd school board that refusing to follow state requirements for schools would result in the termination of each board member. The Floyd board believes that the governor lacks the legal authority to make good on her threat.
“I believe this is a victory for the state of New Mexico,” board president Leon Nall said after the 5-0 vote, according to <a href="https://www.easternnewmexiconews.com/story/2021/08/01/news/floyd-continues-to-defy-state-on-mask-mandates/169408.html?fbclid=IwAR1mf-hcYt-r28rCZiY63FZ90dY1DiQmEVgNHCtxLuukAU33vM-5Lfy4KVA">The Eastern New Mexico News</a>.</blockquote>

Michelle Grisham

New Mexico Governor Becoming Substitute Teacher To Address Staffing Shortage

Education

New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s campaign paid tens of thousands of dollars more than was previously known to an ex-staffer who accused the governor of groping him.
Lujan Grisham’s campaign paid former staffer James Hallinan $150,000 as part of a settlement agreement after Hallinan accused Lujan Grisham of grabbing his crotch in front of several other staffers. Lujan Grisham has denied the accusation.
The settlement was first revealed in April after Lujan Grisham’s campaign revealed it had paid Hallinan $62,500, consisting of five monthly payments of $12,500, over his accusation. On Sunday, the campaign revealed that it had paid Hallinan an additional $87,500 as part of the settlement, according to the <a href="https://www.abqjournal.com/2436809/govs-campaign-paid-875k-more-to-exstaffer.html">Albuquerque Journal</a>.
Campaign spokeswoman Kendall Witmer again denied Hallinan’s allegations in a statement, saying that the governor’s campaign settled the case to cut the expenses of a drawn-out legal battle and “prevent any distraction” from the governor’s work on COVID-19. The spokeswoman said, according to <a href="https://www.kob.com/new-mexico-news/new-mexico-governor-settles-harassment-claim-for-150k/6266347/">KOB4</a>:
<blockquote>The Governor, Dominic Gabello, and New Mexicans for Michelle unequivocally deny the false, dubious, and meritless claims made by Mr. Hallinan and feel certain the claims would have been disproved in court. The settlement resolved suspect and varied claims made by Mr. Hallinan, including his search for employment and clients following his tumultuous tenure on the 2018 campaign. The campaign reached this settlement in 2020 due to the expense of litigating business disputes and to prevent any distraction during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Governor Lujan Grisham will continue to work tirelessly for the people of New Mexico, delivering on record economic growth, educational investment, and tax cuts for New Mexico’s families &#8212; all while leading the state through the COVID-19 pandemic.</blockquote>
Hallinan served as Lujan Grisham’s spokesman on her 2018 campaign. He <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrat-governors-campaign-settles-lawsuit-filed-by-man-who-said-she-groped-his-crotch">brought</a> his allegations against the governor public in 2019, claiming that Lujan Grisham poured a bottle of water down his pants before grabbing his crotch while laughing. Hallinan said the incident took place in front of a number of other campaign staffers. Lujan Grisham and her campaign have denied Hallinan’s claims.
Earlier this year, Lujan Grisham was involved in another scandal over after she was revealed to have spent thousands of taxpayer dollars on groceries, liquor, and dry cleaning for her personal use. As The Daily Wire reported at the time:
<blockquote>Grisham racked up a $13,500 tab during the last six months of 2020, according to financial disclosures <a href="https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/spending-at-new-mexico-governor-s-mansion-during-pandemic-draws-scrutiny/article_67c1fb54-71ff-11eb-af7a-5b91cc72fd01.html">reported on</a> by the Sante Fe New Mexican. Her bill allegedly included $6,500 in luxurious groceries such as Wagyu beef and tuna steaks, as well as bottles of tequila, vodka, gin, wine, and beer.
Grisham or one of her surrogates allegedly spent $200 on alcohol during one visit to Sam’s Club and also used tax dollars to pay for her dry cleaning. People close to her were also reportedly receiving raises between $7,500 and $12,000 at the time.</blockquote>
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/non-essential-store-opened-during-lockdown-to-sell-democrat-governor-lujan-grisham-jewelry-report-says">‘Non-Essential’ Store Opened During Lockdown To Sell Democrat Governor Lujan Grisham Jewelry, Report Says</a>

Democrat NM Governor Paid Additional $87,500 To Settle Sexual Misconduct Case

On Wednesday, the New Mexico state Public Education Department suspended a rural school board of a district with roughly 225 students after it countered Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s mask mandate for requiring children to wear masks in school.
“The five-member Floyd school board voted last week to make masks and social distancing optional and reaffirmed its decision in another vote Monday despite warnings from state officials that they could face suspension or other enforcement actions,” <a href="https://www.abqjournal.com/2416691/floyd-school-board-suspended-over-mask-vote.html">The Albuquerque Journal</a> reported, adding, “The district’s superintendent has been ordered to report directly to outgoing state Education Secretary Ryan Stewart.”
&#8220;The Floyd board voted July 26 at a special meeting to make masks and social distancing optional and to disregard state guidelines on indoor air quality, transportation, surveillance testing, and other COVID Safe Practices. Stewart sent board members a memo the next day, advising that their actions were inconsistent with state requirements,&#8221; the <a href="https://ladailypost.com/floyd-school-board-suspended-for-refusing-to-follow-health-orders-superintendent-reinstated-and-will-report-directly-to-public-education-secretary/">Los Alamos Daily Post</a> reported.
In late July, the New Mexico Public Education Department released new guidance on masks and protocols for schools. “All individuals in elementary schools regardless of vaccination status are required to wear a mask while: in a school building, on school transportation or at an indoor school-sponsored event,” <a href="https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/nmped-releases-guidance-on-masks-for-the-upcoming-school-year/6184034/">KOB</a> reported, adding, “Schools must identify the process for ensuring compliance with mask requirements, including posting signage in school facilities, announcing mask requirements at events and other necessary means for enforcement.”
Grisham stated, “In-person learning for New Mexico children is my top priority. And with safety guidelines and unobtrusive health requirements in place, it can happen safely – and for the well-being and growth of our children, it must happen. Until vaccinations are available to children of every age, it will be incumbent on each of us, in school environments, to do everything we can to minimize risk – and that includes face-coverings.&#8221;
Stewart sent the memo to the board members in which he threatened, “We cannot put students, staff and their families at unnecessary risk as we continue the fight against the Delta variant. By ignoring these basic safety measures, the board impairs the ability of the district to offer safe and uninterrupted in-person learning opportunities.”
Steve Pearce, the chair of the Republican Party in New Mexico responded to the suspension by defending the school district: “The Republican Party stands shoulder to shoulder with the Floyd School Board and all other boards that refuse to accept these statewide orders from Santa Fe.” House Republican Leader Jim Townsend of Artesia echoed, “Instead of politicizing and headline-grabbing, I sure wish that the governor and PED would have implemented a serious plan to address the learning gap and the myriad of other issues that have been exacerbated during COVID.”
Republican Sen. David Gallegos of Eunice said of the Floyd board, “They represented the best interests of the children in their district. This gross violation of local authority is disrespectful to the students and families of Floyd and may even be a violation of New Mexico law.”

School Board Suspended By New Mexico After Defying Dem Gov’s Mask Mandate For Kids

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