New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has “temporarily suspended” New Mexicans’ Constitutional right to bear arms in part of the state. Texas public servants are demanding action be taken to prevent this from happening in Texas.
Due to a “rise in gun violence” and “drug abuse,” Grisham opted to issue an emergency public health order taking away the Constitutional right to conceal or open carry firearms—regardless of permits or licenses to carry—for 30 days in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County.
Similar snatching of Constitutional rights occurred during the Chinese coronavirus pandemic in 2021. All 50 U.S. governors invoked “emergency powers” to establish health mandates, business closures, curfews, and the curtailing of free speech.
“These same petty government tyrants tried repealing parts of the Constitution during the COVID lockdowns, so we knew it was only a matter of time before they tried attacking the Second Amendment in the same manner,” Chris McNutt of Texas Gun Rights told Texas Scorecard.
While Gov. Greg Abbott has publicly supported Texans’ Second Amendment rights, and would likely not attempt the same type of suspension as Grisham, he utilized similar emergency powers during and after the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. He kept Texas in a “state of emergency” for more than three years, during which he exercised “emergency powers” to theoretically keep Texans safe.
During Abbott’s three-year-long state of emergency, state lawmakers attempted to pass legislation to remove the governor’s overreach of powers during a state emergency.
The legislation was killed in the Republican-majority state House.
“The Texas governor’s powers to create a crime in a health ‘emergency’ remain in statute,” State Rep. Matt Schaefer (R–Tyler) posted on X. “We have filed bills to repeal this unconstitutional law, but the Texas House kills them. Our current governor would not suspend #2A like NM did, but a Beto-type would.”
U.S. Rep. Chip Roy (R–TX) also highlighted Grisham’s unconstitutional suspension of rights in his push to “defund tyranny.”
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R–TX) agreed that the order is “flagrantly unconstitutional under existing Second Amendment precedent.”
wow. wow. wow.
Here are words I’ve never said before:@tedlieu is right. 😳 https://t.co/MHNnfrJu8I
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) September 9, 2023
“Like night follows day: Elect Democrats, and they try to take away your constitutional rights,” he posted on X.
“This is just further proof that the radical Left hates gun owners and will do anything to disarm them,” McNutt said.
McNutt referenced the U.S. Supreme Court case New York State Rifle & Pistol Association Inc. (NYSRPA) v. Bruenwhen telling Texas Scorecard why he believes this order will be reversed quickly.
In NYSRPA v. Bruen, the Court struck down New York’s public carry licensing law and ruled that the Second Amendment protects the right to carry a loaded handgun publicly for self-defense.
McNutt concluded, saying, “In a post-Bruen America, we are confident this suspension will get overturned by the courts very quickly.”
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