Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen announced in a press conference on Monday that his office would not enforce the latest public health order aimed at combating gun violence. The order, issued by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, prohibits concealed and open carry of firearms in Albuquerque and the county for the next 30 days after its enactment on Friday.
Sheriff Allen considers the order to be unconstitutional and expressed his disagreement with it. He learned about the order just minutes before the public announcement last week. The order itself was issued in response to the tragic death of an 11-year-old boy in Albuquerque.
During the press conference, Sheriff Allen emphasized that the decision to not enforce the order was solely his, and that the governor was aware of law enforcement’s opposing views. He stated that the order would not contribute to improving public safety or the well-being of his policing staff. Moreover, he argued that the order would only punish law-abiding citizens by infringing on their constitutional right to self-defense.
In addition to citing the unconstitutionality of the order, Sheriff Allen also mentioned political violence as a reason for his office’s refusal to enforce it. However, it is important to note that no further details or context regarding this claim were provided in the article.
It remains to be seen how this refusal to enforce the public health order will impact gun control efforts in Bernalillo County.