During the coronavirus quarantine protocol, there has been much confusion about whether gun stores are essential businesses or not. Trump finally confirms gun stores as essential!
Gun Stores Are Essential Businesses, Trump Says
Gun Stores Should Remain Open
President Trump’s administration continues to stand up for our 2nd Amendment rights. They announced on March 25 that gun stores and manufacturers fall into the category of “essential” businesses. Hence, gun stores should remain open to the public during the coronavirus pandemic.
The country has hotly debated the “essential” status of firearms dealers in recent weeks. While waiting, individual cities and states decided for themselves how to handle closures.
This is the first time that the Department of Homeland Security has stepped in on the matter.
How the States Were Handling Things
Without federal intervention or guidance, state governors were put in charge of their own rulings on firearms dealers.
In Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Texas, the governors protected gun stores and have continuously kept them open as long as they follow social distancing guidelines.
New Jersey governor Phil Murphy closed all gun stores on March 21. This forced store owners to resort to ammunition delivery after doing their research on how they could still service customers. The state background check portal was also closed to prevent first-time gun purchasers from applying.
Washington State also closed gun stores.
California left the decision up to each sheriff’s office, with each county responding differently. Los Angeles closed gun stores while neighboring county stores remained open, with lines out their doors.
This Declaration Has Far-Reaching Effects
While the DHS memorandum is not a directive, it is considered a valuable resource to state and local governments when making their decisions. The memo includes manufacturers, distributors, retailers, importers, and shooting ranges. It is to be used by all levels of government as a guideline in protecting their citizens.
The memorandum was issued just days after Gov. Phil Murphy said at a press conference that a safer society has fewer guns, with those that are in use being issued to trained law enforcement professionals. He then refused to give up his armed bodyguards, saying, “It is what it is.”
New Jersey gun stores were reopened on March 30, with Gov. Murphy reversing his decision based on the DHS memorandum. Los Angeles and Washington State also reopened gun stores.
Why Guns Are Essential Amid a National Crisis
The coronavirus pandemic has panicked Americans; leaving millions unemployed, store shelves empty, and millions more homebound under “shelter in place” directives.
Many cities have limited police response to 911 calls if the suspect has not revealed a weapon or has fled the scene. In an effort to protect police officers from exposure to the virus, call responses are being limited to what is deemed as “life-threatening” crimes.
It has been less than three weeks since the world was turned upside down, and many people are just starting to feel the effects of the changes. With no end in sight and expectations of re-openings delayed into May and June, many Americans will be even more deeply affected in the coming weeks.
More than ever, Americans will be asked to become their own first responders, and gun ownership is a critical element in their success.
With unemployment websites overwhelmed and stimulus checks taking weeks to print and mail, many people will be pressed in a way they’ve never experienced before. And with police not responding to unarmed burglaries, there are few barriers to prevent the desperate and unprepared from targeting their more prepared neighbors.
Standing Up for 2A Rights
The Trump administration has spoken strongly on behalf of Americans by standing up for our 2nd Amendment rights. While state leaders may put their personal opinions on gun control first, our President is standing up for our constitutional rights.
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Editor’s Note – This post was originally published on April 5, 2020, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.
I feel like marijuana for our vets and people who have ptsd but chosen not to get a card is largely more essential, but hey what can I do about it. The Massachusetts governor chose to deem it non essential. What can you do…nothing sadly. -insert sarcastic comment-