New Mexico Governor Orders Closure of All Non-Essential Businesses

In response to the current COVID-19 crisis, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham issued a stay-at-home order for all people in the state.  Part of this includes the closure of all businesses not deemed “essential.”  Unlike her counterparts in many other states, the Governor chose not to specifically include firearms-related business in the list of those considered “essential.”  However, the order does allow for businesses to remain open who provide services “necessary to maintain the safety and sanitation of residences,” as well as “all facilities used by law enforcement personnel” and those supporting defense and national security-related operations. 

This means that it is unclear whether gun stores, ranges and other associated businesses must close at a time when concerned, law-abiding citizens of the state most need them to remain open to help ensure personal and family safety. The order allows “defense and national security-related operations supporting the United States government or a contractor to the United States government” to remain open.  Firearm manufacturers with U.S. government contracts meet this requirement and are allowed to remain operational. It is likely that those with law enforcement contracts may also remain operational. 
 
Please contact the Governor and request that she amend her order to include firearm-related businesses and shooting ranges in the list of those designated as “essential.”  If she gives such a designation to liquor stores and dry cleaners, those businesses that make possible the exercise of our firearms freedoms enshrined in the Second Amendment and Article 2, Section 6 of the State Constitution would seem to have earned at least as much.