Chris Christie criticizes New Mexico governor’s gun ban as “clearly and blatantly unconstitutional.”
Former Republican Governor Slams New Mexico Governor’s Gun Permit Ban
Former Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie strongly criticized Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s (D-NM) recent 30-day ban on concealed and open carry gun permits in two counties surrounding Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The order was issued by Grisham following her declaration of a public health emergency due to gun violence. However, the decision has faced criticism from individuals across the political spectrum. Christie appeared on Fox News’s America’s Newsroom on Tuesday, where he referred to the ban as a “public relations ploy.”
“This is so clearly and blatantly unconstitutional. I think it will be knocked down. This is nothing more than a public relations ploy by a governor who is having trouble in her own state, understands how politically unpopular her border policies are, how politically unpopular violent crime that’s going on in New Mexico and across the country is. And she is attempting to cater to the grandstand. It is not going to work,” Christie said.
Christie further expressed his belief that the federal courts will intervene and prevent the implementation of the ban. He highlighted the pushback from individuals within Grisham’s own party in New Mexico, emphasizing that she does not have the authority to enforce such restrictions.
“I was a governor, and I am for governors having real authority to be able to make sure the quality of life in their state is excellent, the people are safe, and law and order is enforced, but not by violating the Constitution. This is clearly violating the Constitution, and she needs to be reprimanded for it,” he continued.
When asked about addressing gun violence and crime, Christie emphasized the importance of enforcing existing laws. He stated that if he were elected president, he would direct U.S. attorneys to prosecute violent crime.
“As president, what I would do is order my attorney general in all of the cities where there is runaway violent crime — we know which ones they are, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, New York are just some of them — to make the U.S. attorneys in those cities take over the enforcement of violent crime if the prosecutors won’t,” Christie said.
“And we have plenty of room in federal prison for people committing violent acts and ruining the quality of life in America’s great cities. America can’t be a great country if we don’t have great cities. As president, what I will do is make sure we enforce the law at the federal level if there are Soros-backed prosecutors who won’t do it in cities across this country,” he added.
The ban in New Mexico imposes fines of up to $5,000 for those who do not comply with the new restrictions. However, individuals with carry permits are still allowed to transport their firearms to certain locations, such as gun ranges or stores, as long as the weapons have mechanisms preventing discharge.
Officials in the Albuquerque area have voiced their opposition to the governor’s executive action, stating that they will not enforce it and deeming it unconstitutional. The backlash against Grisham’s order has come from both Republicans and Democrats who believe it contradicts their constitutional oaths.
Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen has called for a special session of the state legislature to oppose Grisham’s order.
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