House Rules Committee condemns New Mexico governor’s public health order

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s public health order is getting national attention as the U.S. House Rules Committee voted to condemn her actions as an assault on the Second Amendment.

Next up, is a vote on the House floor.

But what does this resolution do? Essentially, it’s just a declaration that the U.S. House stands for the defense of Second Amendment rights. It doesn’t hold any penalties against the governor.

The House Rules Committee held a lengthy debate.

“The governor’s ban makes no distinction between law-abiding citizens and those who break the law,” said Wisconsin Rep. Thomas P. Tiffany. 

Tiffany brought House Resolution 684 in front of the Rules Committee Monday, saying New Mexico’s governor subverted the Second Amendment with her public health order.

Many other representatives agreed:

“What we do is make it harder for law-abiding citizens to actually protect themselves from criminals who are becoming more and more aggressive,” said Texas Rep. Michael Burgess.

“I think the clear message is we are here to protect people’s constitutional rights and that’s what I appreciate about this, and I fully support it,” said Minnesota Rep. Michelle Fischbach. 

But there was push back from the other side of the aisle saying this resolution was a waste of time, namely from New Mexico Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez

“There are things that we can do in Congress that we should be doing, including making sure we pass a budget and that we have support to get appropriations, so we can continue to do the work and serve our communities,” said Leger Fernandez. 

After nearly an hour of debate, the resolution passed 9-3 along party lines and is now moving to the House floor.

On Tuesday, KOB 4 received statements from New Mexico’s other two representatives – and while they are both democrats their votes are split.

“We must produce constitutional, legal and enforceable solutions that will help protect our children and our families,” said Congressman Gabe Vasquez.

“I will vote no on the GOP’s efforts to undermine New Mexico’s executive and distract from House republicans’ complete inability to pass a budget,” said Rep. Melanie Stansbury.

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham sent KOB 4 the following statement Tuesday:

“Instead of meaningless resolutions, Congress should take immediate action to pass meaningful gun safety laws that will save lives in Albuquerque and across the country. Republicans in Congress have already shown they won’t lift a finger to get guns out of the wrong hands. The fact is that they lack the courage to take on the NRA and far-right special interests.

I will – without hesitation – continue to stand up for victims in New Mexico and fight to keep our citizens safe. Among many other opportunities to support public safety in New Mexico, I am investing more than $100 million in statewide law enforcement recruitment because that is critical to making change. New Mexico will not wait, and I will continue to take bold action in the interest of the health and safety of the people who live here. As elected leaders, our responsibility to those we serve is nothing less.”