Albuquerque Council Moves to Expand Dangerous, Unconstitutional “Civil” Emergency Powers

Today at 5 p.m., the Albuquerque City Council will meet to consider Council Bill 0-20-4 to expand the definition of “Civil Emergency” to include technological disruptions, cyberattacks, and “an actual or eminent [sic] outbreak of any infectious disease.”  This will dramatically expand the ability of the mayor to invoke emergency powers in the city. 
 
One of these existing, exceptionally dangerous powers includes the ability to:
 
“Order the discontinuance of selling, distributing, dispensing or giving away of any firearms or ammunition of any character whatsoever, or in the alternative, order the closing of all establishments or portions thereof where arms and/or ammunition are kept for sale or distribution.”
 
Citing the Governor’s recent move to “ban large public gatherings” due to the COVID-19 situation, the meeting is closed to the public.  Consequently, public comment will be accepted only via email, fax, or hand delivery until 4:45 p.m.  Check out the agenda and detailed information associated with the submission of public comment.

Please provide comment and tell the City Council that you oppose all expansions of the mayor’s emergency powers until this blatant violation of the Second Amendment, and Article 2, Section 6 of the New Mexico Constitution is repealed.  Article 2, Section 26 unambiguously states:

“No law shall abridge the right of the citizen to keep and bear arms for security and defense…  No municipality or county shall regulate, in any way, an incident of the right to keep and bear arms.”