New Mexico’s Democrat Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has become the latest of many governors to propose sweeping gun control initiatives in the wake of a series of mass shootings. Unfortunately, the governor’s proposal hit a major roadblock recently when the state Supreme Court issued a temporary injunction halting the implementation of her gun order.
The order, issued in September 2019, would have expanded background checks for all firearms sales in New Mexico. The Governor and her supporters argued that the measures were necessary to protect public safety and curb the rise of gun violence in the state.
The injunction was issued late last week, following a challenge from members of the state’s Republican Party. The Attorney General’s office filed the suit on behalf of two gun rights advocates who argued that the regulations violated the state’s constitution by overstepping the Governor’s executive authority.
The injunction is in effect for the time being, meaning the regulations are not able to go into effect. The outcome of the legal challenge is currently undecided, so it remains to be seen if the regulations will be allowed to be implemented.
Regardless of the outcome, this legal challenge shows just how contentious the gun control debate has become in the United States. With the 2020 election only a few months away and the recently proposed “red flag” laws in some states, it’s clear that gun control is going to remain an important issue on the national stage in 2020.
Governor Lujan Grisham’s proposal has raised important questions about the limits of executive authority as well as the states’ role in gun regulation. As the legal battle unfolds, New Mexico’s Supreme Court will have the the final say in terms of the Governor’s proposed order.