Federal Judge Blocks Part of New Mexico Governor’s Public Health Order Suspending Right to Open or Concealed Carry of Guns in Public Places

A federal judge in New Mexico has blocked part of a public health order issued by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham that suspended the right to open or concealed carry of guns in public places for 30 days in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County. The order was issued in response to several recent shootings that resulted in the deaths of children, including an 11-year-old boy who was killed while leaving a minor league baseball game in Albuquerque.

Opponents of the order argued that it was in violation of the Second Amendment, and the ruling Wednesday by U.S. District Judge David Urias granted a temporary restraining order. The judge heard arguments Wednesday afternoon before issuing his ruling.

The order was issued in an effort to reduce gun violence in the area, and was based on a statistical threshold for the number of shootings in the area. Governor Lujan Grisham has expressed her disappointment in the ruling, saying that she believes the order was necessary to protect the safety of the people of New Mexico.

The temporary restraining order will remain in effect until a hearing is held to determine the legality of the order. The hearing is scheduled for August 7th, and both sides are expected to present their arguments. In the meantime, the right to open or concealed carry of guns in public places in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County remains suspended.