New Mexico AG Raul Torrez refuses to defend Gov. Lujan Grisham in gun carry suspension lawsuits
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Democratic New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez announced he will not defend the state in pending lawsuits against the governor's public health emergency order suspending open and concealed carry of firearms in Albuquerque and surrounding counties.
In a letter to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM) regarding four impending lawsuit cases, Torrez shared the same sentiments from Democratic and Republican lawmakers and law enforcement, saying the ban violates the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens.
"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. "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."
While recognizing his duties as chief legal officer to defend New Mexico officials who are sued, he cast doubt on whether the order would reduce gun violence in the community.
"While I understand that frustration may have led you to undertake a unilateral approach to addressing the heart-wrenching challenge of gun violence in our community, I urge you to reconsider this course of action," Torrez wrote.
Federal judges will determine how to proceed with the lawsuits and when to schedule hearings. Cases from the National Association for Gun Rights, Gun Owners of America, the Patriots USA, and a Bernalillo County resident, Shawn Blas, have all been filed, and more are expected.
The 30-day ban in and around Albuquerque has been met with bipartisan backlash, with Lujan Grisham confirming on Tuesday that no law enforcement officers in the county have enforced the order while she defended her decision.
Speaking to CNNThis Morning, Lujan Grisham questioned what police are doing to address those illegally carrying firearms.
"And if not this bold action making sure that you're safe going to the grocery store, you're safe going to a baseball game, you're safe walking on a hiking trail," Lujan Grisham said.
"There are individuals, including young people, where it's illegal today to have a handgun, openly carrying handguns," the governor added. "My question to law enforcement is: Where are you?"
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Hmmmm?....
The governor really should have talked with the AG to get his opinion before she issued that Executive Order.
Agreed, perhaps she just assumed her Democrat AG would just back it?....
Why aren’t the democrats treating her like trump and arresting her for conspiring to violate citizens’ civil rights? Isn’t that the new standard? Or does it only apply to trump
It would seem that when Democrats violate civil rights it's for justice........
Yep, truly seditious behavior …..
At least a little sanity reigns in New Mexico...