An Albuquerque, New gun shop has had enough of New Mexico Governor Michelle Grisham’s heavy-handed authoritarianism. Louie Sanchez, owner of Calibers gun shop, says the Constitution trumps the governor’s pandemic over-reach. He plans to open his gun shop regardless of Gov. Grisham’s empty decrees and threats.
“Unless, somehow, she got a magical power to take the Second Amendment out of our constitution, that we have the right to open up,” Sanchez told the local TV station.
Amen, brother.
Calibers’ owner assured the media and the public that he plans a responsible opening, including practicing social distancing between customers and staff. What’s more, Sanchez pointed out the obvious: his products help keep the community safe.
From KOB Channel 4 TV:
“So, we at Calibers have decided that we are going to open up with social distancing on our range,” Sanchez said. “And you know what, we’re going to take this fight back to her. We feel that unless, somehow, she got a magical power to take the Second Amendment out of our constitution, that we have the right to open up.”
Several groups, including the NRA, are suing the state over the Public Health Order– claiming it’s a violation of the Second Amendment…
A spokesperson for the governor said Calibers’ gun range is only allowed to stay open for law enforcement– and by appointment only.
The governor’s office released the following statement in response to Calibers:
The state has taken and will continue to take an extremely broad view of what is considered non-essential to public health amid this pandemic. Gun stores are hardly the only entity having to adapt as we work to stem illnesses and prevent deaths. No one is happy about closing in-person business in our state – no one, including the governor. But it is inarguable that the only way we get through this pandemic with the fewest number of deaths that we can manage is to limit travel outside of the home to the greatest extent possible – and while we as an administration unequivocally support the constitutional right to purchase a firearm, we recognize that right does not correspond to a right to congregate in a store and infect neighbors and workers and public safety officers amid an unprecedented global pandemic.?“ Nora Meyers Sackett, spokesperson for Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham
We have little doubt that Gov. Grisham will try to find some oathbreakers in the New Mexico State Police who will try to intimidate Sanchez into closing his store.
Time will tell if he tells them to fly a kite, too, or if they make him an offer he can’t refuse.
So when will the lawsuit be heard by a Federal judge?