{"id":2030892,"date":"2023-09-13T17:16:01","date_gmt":"2023-09-13T21:16:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/how-new-mexico-gun-owners-defy-governors-unconstitutional-gun-ban\/"},"modified":"2023-09-13T17:19:52","modified_gmt":"2023-09-13T21:19:52","slug":"how-new-mexico-gun-owners-defy-governors-unconstitutional-gun-ban","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/how-new-mexico-gun-owners-defy-governors-unconstitutional-gun-ban\/","title":{"rendered":"New Mexico gun owners challenge governor&#8217;s &#8216;unconstitutional&#8217; gun ban."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhow-new-mexico-gun-owners-defy-governors-unconstitutional-gun-ban%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2030892&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div data-post-content=\"true\" class=\"post_content\" id=\"post_content\">\n<p>ALBUQUERQUE,\u2063 N.M.\u2014Luke Saiz of Albuquerque, New Mexico, is defying the public health order by New Mexico\u2063 Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and carrying\u2062 multiple firearms \u200cin his vehicle \u2063for personal safety. Despite the potential $5,000 fine, Saiz believes it is \u200bhis constitutional right to have these \u2063weapons.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Today, yeah, I carry a bunch of different ones,&#8221;\u200b said Saiz confidently, sporting glasses, a\u2063 long \u200dbeard, \u2064and a camouflage cap \u200bwhile holstering a Glock 9mm handgun by his\u200d waist.<\/p>\n<p>The\u2062 governor&#8217;s order, which suspended the right to\u2063 carry firearms in\u2064 public for 30 days, was issued in response to three shooting deaths involving children \u2063since July. However, Saiz remains steadfast in his \u200dbelief that his constitutional rights should not be infringed upon.<\/p>\n<div class=\"shortcode\">\n<div class=\"border-comp-divider mb-4 mr-4 w-full max-w-[500px] border px-5 py-4 text-[16px] leading-[20px] text-[#262626] md:float-left\" id=\"in_article_related_stories\">\n<div class=\"mb-3 font-sans text-[16px] font-semibold uppercase leading-[19px] text-[#2F2F2F]\">Related \u2062Stories<\/div>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-2\">\n            <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/new-mexico-attorney-general-says-he-will-not-defend-governors-gun-ban-in-court-5490348\">New Mexico Attorney General Says\u200b He Will Not Defend Governor\u2019s Gun Ban in Court<\/a>\n          <\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">9\/13\/2023<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[120px]\">\n          <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/new-mexico-attorney-general-says-he-will-not-defend-governors-gun-ban-in-court-5490348\"><\/a>\n        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-2\">\n            <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/epochtv\/new-mexico-republican-party-to-sue-governor-over-right-to-carry-ban-5490782\">New Mexico Republican\u2062 Party to Sue Governor Over\u200d Right-to-Carry Ban<\/a>\n          <\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">9\/13\/2023<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[120px]\">\n          <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/epochtv\/new-mexico-republican-party-to-sue-governor-over-right-to-carry-ban-5490782\"><\/a>\n        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-figure\" style=\"margin-left:0;margin-right:0;max-width:1200px\">\n<figure style=\"width:640px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>Luke Saiz of\u2062 Albuquerque, N.M., holstering\u2062 a Glock 9mm semi-automatic handgun on Sept. 12, 2023. (Allan Stein\/The Epoch Times)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The\u200d governor argues that the\u2063 recent \u200cshooting \u200ddeaths constitute a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/martinez-we-have-2-4-hour-lines-due-to-new-mexico-lockdown\/\" title=\"Martinez: 'We Have 2-4 Hour Lines' Due to New Mexico Lockdown\">public health emergency<\/a>, granting her the authority to\u200b act \u2064unilaterally.\u2064 However, Saiz disagrees and believes that his rights should not be \u200dlimited.<\/p>\n<p>Grisham stated, &#8220;No constitutional right, in \u200bmy view, \u2064including my oath, is intended\u2063 to be absolute.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"shortcode post-related-videos\">\n<div class=\"lazyload-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"lazyload-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The\u2063 Epoch Times reached out to Ms.\u2063 Grisham&#8217;s office \u200cfor comment.<\/p>\n<p>The public\u2064 health order went into effect on \u200dSept. 8\u2062 in Bernalillo\u200d County, home to Albuquerque, the state&#8217;s largest city.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I think it&#8217;s unconscionable,&#8221; \u2064said Saiz,\u2063 a staunch Republican, regarding the governor&#8217;s executive\u2062 order. However, he was pleasantly surprised to see Democrats opposing her\u200b decision.<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-figure\" style=\"margin-left:0;margin-right:0;max-width:1200px\">\n<figure style=\"width:640px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>Arnold Gallegos, owner of ABQ Guns in Albuquerque, N.M.,\u2063 and \u200da police officer in the Jemez Springs Police Department,\u200b on Sept. 12, 2023. \u200c(Allan Stein\/The Epoch Times)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>    &#8220;She has this concept that nothing is absolute. \u2062Her oath \u2063isn&#8217;t absolute. \u2063That in itself \u200cis \u2064enough to be removed\u2062 from office. To say\u200b an oath is not absolute is \u200cgarbage,&#8221; Saiz\u200d told\u2062 The Epoch Times.<br \/>\n  \u2062 \u200b<\/p>\n<h2>Sheriff, Attorney\u200d General Will &#8216;Not Comply&#8217;<\/h2>\n<p>    \u200b   Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen \u200bhas\u200c publicly \u200bdeclared\u200d the \u200cgovernor&#8217;s order unconstitutional and refused to enforce \u2063it.\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<p>At least two Republican lawmakers in New Mexico have called for\u200d the \u2063governor\u200b to be impeached.<\/p>\n<p>On Sept. 12, New Mexico\u200b Attorney General Raul Torrez, a Democrat, announced he would not \u200bdefend the\u2064 governor against four lawsuits \u2063challenging her executive order.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Though I recognize my statutory obligation as New Mexico&#8217;s chief legal officer to defend \u200dstate officials when they\u2064 are sued in\u200d their\u200c official capacity,&#8221;\u200d Mr. Torres\u200c wrote\u200b in the\u2064 four-page letter to\u200c the \u200bgovernor, &#8220;my \u200bduty to uphold and defend \u200bthe constitutional rights of every citizen \u200btakes precedence.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Simply put, I do not believe that the Emergency Order will have any meaningful impact on\u200c public safety, but,\u200b more \u2063importantly, I do not believe it passed constitutional muster.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Firearms owner \u200cRobert Herrera of\u200b Albuquerque believes the governor&#8217;s\u200b public health order is an overreach \u200bof her authority and\u200b unrelated to public health \u200dor safety.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;She needs to bring back the death penalty.\u2063 When they kill a small\u200d child or a\u2062 police officer\u2014bring back the death penalty and get rid \u200dof\u200d those types \u2062of people,&#8221; Herrera told The Epoch Times.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s trying \u2062to use this and \u200dthe pandemic together. They&#8217;re two different things.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>In a statement from the \u2062governor&#8217;s office, the executive order \u200dincludes an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/how-new-mexico-gun-owners-defy-governors-unconstitutional-gun-ban\/\" title=\"New Mexico gun owners challenge governor's 'unconstitutional' gun ban.\">action plan declaring \u2062illegal drugs<\/a> a \u2064public health emergency.<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-figure\" style=\"margin-left:0;margin-right:0;max-width:1200px\">\n<figure style=\"width:640px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>Robert Herrera, an Albuquerque, N.M., resident and \u2064firearms owner, said he \u2063believes \u200da public\u200c health\u200d order suspending\u2064 firearms in public is unconstitutional. Photo taken\u2063 on Sept. 12, 2023.\u200b (Allan Stein\/The Epoch Times)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&#8220;The action plan \u2063includes a suspension of open and concealed carry\u200d laws\u200b in Bernalillo County,\u2062 temporarily prohibiting the carrying \u2063of guns on public \u2062property with certain exceptions.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Exceptions include licensed security guards and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/portland-shooting-legacy-good-samaritan-hospital-on-lockdown-amid-active-shooter-event-2\/\" title=\"Active shooter event prompts lockdown at Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland.\">law enforcement \u200cofficers<\/a>. \u200dCitizens\u2063 with permits to carry firearms are free \u200dto possess their weapons on private property (such as\u200b at a gun range or gun\u2062 store), provided they\u200c transport the firearm in a locked box, \u200buse a trigger lock, or some other mechanism that\u200d renders the gun incapable of being fired.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Licensed firearm owners\u200b who violate the public health order could face heavy\u2062 fines \u2062of up to \u2064$5,000 per \u200cviolation.<\/p>\n<p>The governor&#8217;s executive\u2064 order authorizes the Bernalillo County Regulation and Licensing Division to conduct monthly inspections\u2062 of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/court-declares-laws-banning-handgun-sales-to-people-under-21-unconstitutional\/\" title=\"Court Declares Laws Banning Handgun Sales To People Under 21 Unconstitutional\">licensed firearms dealers<\/a> to &#8220;ensure compliance with all sales and\u2063 storage \u2063laws.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Mark Abramson, \u200cproprietor of Los\u2064 Ranchos Gun Shop in Albuquerque, expressed concerns about the \u2063monthly\u200d inspections.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We\u200b don&#8217;t know what that means\u2063 because they don&#8217;t have jurisdiction \u2064over us,&#8221; \u2064Abramson \u2064told The\u200d Epoch Times.<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-figure\" style=\"margin-left:0;margin-right:0;max-width:1200px\">\n<figure style=\"width:640px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>The Bernalillo\u2062 Sheriff&#8217;s Department \u2063in Albuquerque, N.M., on Sept. 12, 2023.\u2063 (Allan Stein\/The \u200bEpoch Times)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>    \u200b  \u200b &#8220;This is not \u2063the existential threat to gun shops that COVID [was]. \u200bSo there is a lot of noise \u2063about it\u2063 and\u2063 what&#8217;s next. She&#8217;s\u2064 already crossed the line on what she&#8217;s probably\u200b allowed \u2062to do.&#8221;<br \/>\n \u200d<\/p>\n<h2>City has &#8216;Bigger\u2064 Problems&#8217;<\/h2>\n<p>    \u200b    &#8220;They can \u200bcome in, \u2063but they \u200bdon&#8217;t have any right to my books or anything else.&#8221;<br \/>\n \u200c\u2062\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<p>Abramson believes that enforcing the order could be challenging without \u200dsupport \u2062from the \u2063county sheriff.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Albuquerque\u2062 has bigger problems,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Frankly, Bernalillo County has bigger\u200b problems\u2064 than enforcing it.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We all want \u2063gun violence to \u200dstop. \u2064Whether \u200c [Gov. Grisham] came up with\u2062 this on her own, or is it part of a \u200btest of the waters is the \u2063question. It is the\u2062 logical extension\u2063 of those [COVID-19 public emergency] powers \u2063in\u2062 testing how \u200cfar they go.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-figure\" style=\"margin-left:0;margin-right:0;max-width:1200px\">\n<figure style=\"width:640px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>A parked\u200d Albuquerque,\u2062 N.M., Police \u2062Department\u2063 cruiser on\u2062 Sept. 12, \u200d2023. (Allan Stein\/The Epoch Times)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>His prediction?<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s got a \u200cbig\u2063 problem. I think she gets shut down.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Arnold Gallegos, \u2063proprietor of ABQ Guns in \u2063Albuquerque and\u2063 an officer in\u2063 the Jemez Springs\u200b Police Department, believes the governor&#8217;s \u2062executive order is &#8220;highly illegal&#8221; under the \u2064constitution.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a made-up public\u2063 emergency. There are approximately eight times more people that die from fentanyl overdoses\u2063 than there are\u2062 by firearms\u2014within the county, the city, and the\u2063 state,&#8221; Gallegos told\u2063 The Epoch\u200b Times. &#8220;But she won&#8217;t address anything like \u200bthat because her\u2062 agenda is to <\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. &#8211; Luke Saiz from Albuquerque, NM, risks a hefty $5,000 fine under Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham&#8217;s public health order but still carries multiple firearms for personal safety. Saiz, wearing glasses and a long coat, admits to carrying various weapons, defying the restrictions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":294,"featured_media":2030893,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2030892","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2030892","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/294"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2030892"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2030892\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2030893"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2030892"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2030892"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2030892"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}