Growing opposition to New Mexico’s temporary gun ban
LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) -- A temporary ban restricting people in and around Albuquerque from carrying their guns in public is getting pushback from gun rights groups, and some in the community.
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced the ban on Friday, citing the recent shooting deaths of three children.
The ban suspends the open and concealed carrying of guns in public, by anyone other than law enforcement and licensed security officers.
State regulators must conduct monthly inspections of gun dealers statewide. And it directs the state Department of Health to compile a report on gunshot victims at New Mexico hospitals, including the brand and caliber of weapon involved.
Democratic State Senator Joe Cervantes, who represents Dona Ana County, spoke out against the plan, asking Lujan Grisham to reconsider.
"I've got mixed emotions on what is going to be the best approach to this," said Dennis Giever, Head of the Criminal Justice department at NMSU.
"I don't know if this type of reaction to what she perceives as an increase in violence is really gonna help. But then again, we sit around on our hands and do nothing and that doesn't help either, so...," he added.
According ABC News - the National Association for Gun Rights, and one of its members who lives in Albuquerque filed a lawsuit asking the court to block the ban, citing a violation of the Second Amendment
Former Doña Ana County District Attorney Amy Orlando told ABC-7 she's not surprised.
"I expected that immediately. If we have an uprising in gun crimes, that means more criminals have access to the guns, are out on the streets, repeat offenders, people that are not being held in jail... But the law abiding citizens, the citizens that wanna go through carry-conceal classes, that do everything appropriate, they're being punished an targeted? That makes no sense to me, we're not solving the problem," she said.
Lujan Grisham said state police would be responsible for enforcing what amount to civil violations.
