New Mexico Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is absolutely sure that nothing is absolute — not her oath and not the U.S. Constitution.
“No constitutional right, in my view, including my oath, is intended to be absolute,” Lujan Grisham said Friday in defense of her controversial ban of guns in her state.
Grisham claimed her “temporary” suspension of the Second Amendment rights of U.S. citizens in her state was needed after a handful of fatal shootings in August, according to a Fox News report.
The N.M. governor issued the controversial ban she claimed would last 30 days using public health law as the legal underpinning for her authority.
The governor’s comments ignited a wave of reactions on social media platforms.
“At risk of stating what should be obvious, deliberately violating the Constitution is next-level illegal,” declared Elon Musk in a post to his X account. “How soon can this person be removed from office?”
Ron DeSantis press secretary Jeremy Redfern also weighed in on the New Mexico governor’s act.
“The governor of New Mexico is using a public health order to suspend a right guaranteed by the US Constitution,” remarked Redfern. “Yes, a public health order. Did you think the left was going to stop at just forcing you to wear a mask?”
Legal experts and commentators have expressed doubts about the longevity of the governor’s order in the face of potential legal challenges.
Christian Collins, a conservative political activist and former Texas congressional candidate, pointed to Supreme Court decisions in DC v. Heller and McDonald v. Chicago to note precedent.
“The order, in my view, is flagrantly unconstitutional under existing Second Amendment precedent,” opined legal scholar Jonathan Turley, noting the short duration of the ban may be strategy to avoid court intervention.
Grisham did not help her case with her comments about the nature of rights articulated in the Constitution not being absolute.
“Yea, I doubt a federal judge is going to look kindly at this press conference where Governor Michelle Grisham openly talks about wanting to arrest licensed gun carriers and her view that her own oath of office is not absolute,” remarked Stephen Gutowski.
Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen expressed reservations about the order, also.
“While I understand and appreciate the urgency, the temporary ban challenges the foundation of our Constitution, which I swore an oath to uphold,” remarked Allen.
“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.”
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