NM Governor Extends Emergency Stay-At-Home Order; Closes Liquor Stores

Well, she went and did it. People are hopping mad.

New Mexico Governor "Malevolent Michelle" Lujan Grisham extended the emergency stay-at-home order from the former date of April 10 to April 30 today.

KRQE reported:

SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has extended the emergency ‘stay-at-home’ order Monday to combat the spread of COVID-19. Additional businesses deemed non-essential in the new order include automobile dealerships, payday lenders and liquor stores and according to the governor’s office, they must close. However, the order states that new and used automobile dealers may sell cars through the internet or other audiovisual means. 

The order goes into effect April 7 at 8 a.m. and through at least April 30. The governor still encourages social distancing. In the original public health order, New Mexicans are instructed to stay at home except for emergency or essential outings and non-essential businesses that had been ordered to close in-person operations must remain closed.

If grocers can remain open, why can't liquor stores? How is closing down liquor stores going to make everyone safer? Are grocery stores who have beer, wine and liquor departments in them still allowed to sell beer, wine and liquor? The Flying J here in Jamestown has a walk-in beer cooler and they also sell hard liquor at the cashier. Will this order stop them from selling any of those products?

How are people able to pay their bills and buy food and necessities if they cannot get loans? I had a conversation with my banker in California today and he told me that people are getting desperate and are breaking into ATMs and burglaries are on the rise.

I can somewhat understand extending the current emergency order, but adding these businesses to the Governor's "non-essential" list is ridiculous. And, she still is ignoring the Department of Homeland Security's position that gun stores are essential.

Today, I went to Lowe's market and liquor store in Gallup and the floor of the liquor store was marked every six feet for people to stand while waiting to advance to the cashier. It's a good thing that I picked up beer and wine today.

We have ourselves a little dictator.

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