New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham believes she has the power to “suspend” the right from the Bill of Rights, Amendment II. She says citizens don’t feel safe in Albuquerque and the surrounding county because criminals have guns and there is a problem with gun violence. She indicates that this is an “emergency” which can only be dealt with by denying carry privileges to all law-abiding citizens in that county, leaving guns only in the hands of the outlaw criminals.

Memo to Gov. Grisham:
Criminals are intelligent and fully knowledgeable of their environment. They know what you have just done. They would certainly know it if, instead, you encouraged every law-abiding citizen to carry. The criminals would not only feel themselves surrounded, but they would also know they dare not attempt any criminal conduct.

Lesson from New Mexico history: a fully armed society is a polite and law-observing society. Start taking advantage of the law-honoring citizens who are still trying to make New Mexico a great state. Guns were one of the indispensable tools which built your state. Equip your citizens with the tools they need to remedy what you consider an emergency. Let your law enforcement officers enforce the existing laws which already criminalize murder. Don’t force those officers to start arresting your Constitutionally-informed citizens, who are your best hope for peace, prosperity and justice.

You should also know that most of your LE officers, including Albuquerque police Chief Harold Medina, will not follow you in violating their oaths to the Constitution, and will not themselves break the law. Amend your emergency order before more New Mexico citizens get killed. Your action is a recipe for death and lawlessness.