Yesterday about 200 people came out to protest Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s 30-day suspension of Second Amendment carry rights. Most were armed, carrying handguns and long guns openly. After getting zero support for her power-grab — Albuquerque’s mayor, its police chief and the Bernalillo County Sheriff announced they wouldn’t enforce her order — the Gov’ner announced that the state police would be responsible for enforcing the ban.
From a variety of reports and video posted by attendees, no one from the New Mexico State Police attended yesterday’s peaceful protest, let alone attempted to cite any of those who were armed in violation of the Governor’s diktat.
VIDEO THREAD: Gun owners – many visibly armed – rallied in old Town Albuquerque today to openly defy the New Mexico Governor’s Executive Order banning the open and concealed carry of firearms there as a one-month “emergency.”
Police did not intervene or enforce the order. pic.twitter.com/BAk0kDZC9A
— Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) September 10, 2023
The threat of a $5000 fine didn’t seem to deter anyone from attending while packing.
As the tweets from Ford Fischer and News2Share show, perhaps the post notable part of the rally was the fact that an anti-gun protestor who was on hand was invited up on the stage and allowed to raise his concerns. He was treated pretty respectfully…after he removed the mask he was wearing…outdoors.
3) One apparent anti-gun protester was yelled at, but then invited by the speaker to say his piece on the stage.
The crowd yelled at him for wearing a mask and applauded him when he took it off.
He expressed concern about gun violence in schools, which the speaker and crowd… pic.twitter.com/r8ENh8IKAC
— Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) September 10, 2023
We’ll wait while you think back to the much-hyped gun control protests and screech-a-thons put on by Everytown, Giffords, Team Enough, March for Our Lives and the rest of the anti-gun fun bunch and try to recall when anyone from the gun rights side was invited to address the crowd.
The reason for that isn’t hard to grok. When you have both the facts and the law on your side, indulging someone with an opposing view isn’t a threat to your cause. Don’t hold your breath waiting for reciprocal invitations from anyone in the Civilian Disarmament Industrial Complex.
In the mean time, a fourth lawsuit has now been filed challenging the Governor’s unconstitutional carry ban. This one — Blas v. Grisham — makes constitutional violation claims under the New Mexico Civil Rights act, asks for class action status, and seeks actual and punitive damages.
As always, stay tuned.
