Washington, D.C., March 27, 2019 — Following the passage and introduction of multiple gun violence prevention laws in New Mexico, 29 out of 34 sheriffs in the state signed a declaration that they would refuse to enforce those laws in their communities. In response, Brady’s Legal team today filed Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) requests with 25 of the identified offices, requesting all communications related to the declaration, including any with representatives from the gun industry or gun rights organizations.
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Brady president Kris Brown stated,
“Our law enforcement officers are our nation’s front line defenders of the law. If they are are refusing to enforce the law, they are refusing to stand in defense of public safety, and the American people deserve answers about what led them to that decision. These are common-sense safety laws that were enacted by a state legislature elected by the people of New Mexico. These sheriffs have a responsibility to protect their communities, not put them at risk by failing to enforce the law.”
The declaration, which was signed on February 5, 2019, indicates opposition to the following bills:
After signing SB 8 into law, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham publicly criticized those that signed the declaration, referring to them as “rogue sheriffs throwing a childish pity-party.”
Brady VP of Legal Jonathan Lowy added,
“We elect our representatives to enact law, and our local law enforcement is there to see that the law is carried out. Not the other way around. If the New Mexico sheriffs who signed onto this declaration have a different point of view, their communities deserve to know why.”
The letter sent to the respective sheriffs’ offices requests, among other points:
Per IPRA requirements, each sheriff’s office has 15 working days to produce the documents in question.
Brady has one powerful mission — to unite all Americans against gun violence. We work across Congress, the courts, and our communities with over 90 grassroots chapters, bringing together young and old, red and blue, and every shade of color to find common ground in common sense. In the spirit of our namesakes Jim and Sarah Brady, we have fought for over 45 years to take action, not sides, and we will not stop until this epidemic ends. It’s in our hands.
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