New Mexico Governor Says She Doesn’t Need Sheriff’s ‘Lecture On Constitutionality’

After Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen stated that neither he nor his deputies would enforce New Mexico Gov. Michello Lujan Grisham’s (D) “unconstitutional” gun ban, Grisham fired back in a statement — arguing that she doesn’t “need a lecture on constitutionality” from a sheriff.

Allen made the comments during a press conference on Monday, where he said: “I hold my standards high and I do not, nor ever will, hedge on what is right. I take my oath seriously.”

“The temporary ban challenges the foundations of our constitution, but most importantly, it is unconstitutional,” the sheriff added. “My oath was to protect the Constitution, and that is what I will do. The governor made it clear in her press conference [that] she knew we as law enforcement did not agree with the order, and as a result, this was solely her decision.”

“This order will not do anything to curb gun violence other than punish law-abiding citizens from their constitutional right to self-defense,” he continued, adding: “I have a fact for you: Criminals do not follow the law or a public health order, never seen it, we will never see criminals follow the law.”

In a statement to local news outlet KOAT, Grisham responded to Allen’s remarks.

“I don’t need a lecture on constitutionality from Sheriff Allen: what I need is action,” the Democrat governor wrote.

“What we need is for leaders to stand up for the victims of violent crime. We need law enforcement, district attorneys, public officials, school leaders, and state agencies to use every single tool at their disposal to stop this violence. Period,” Grisham continued.

The governor went on to cite several gun control measures adopted during her time in office, then added a jab at the sheriff, writing: “We’ve given you the tools, Sheriff Allen— now stop being squeamish about using them. I will not back down from doing what’s right and I will always put the safety of the people of New Mexico first.”

Meanwhile, Grisham has received “lectures” on constitutionality from several unlikely sources in recent days — including from CNN, as she appeared for an interview with anchor Poppy Harlow, who read the Constitution verbatim to the Democrat governor.

“No law shall abridge the right of the citizen to keep and bear arms for security and defense…No municipality or county shall regulate, in any way, an incident of the right to keep and bear arms,” Harlow quoted.

“Are you not in violation of both the U.S. Constitution and your state’s Constitution?” the CNN anchor asked.

Unlike in her response to the sheriff, Grisham did not snidely make a comment about being lectured, and instead claimed: “I don’t believe that we are.”

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