Officials were getting nervous about how many people were becoming gun owners. Their ‘solution’ of closing gun shops did NOT go over well.
It began with the assertion that gun shops were ‘nonessential businesses’. Failure to comply could have resulted in the revocation of their business license.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva on Tuesday said gun shops are nonessential businesses and if they don’t close their doors, they will be cited and face the loss of their business licenses.
“Gun shops, strip clubs, night clubs are nonessential businesses. We are trying to get them to close their doors,” he said. “If they don’t close their doors, they will be cited,” which could mean the loss of a business license.
“We aren’t going to haul people off to jail,” he added.
The department is informing any gun businesses to shut down immediately. To ensure the message is delivered, deputies will talk to owners at any businesses still in operation. — LATimes
One of the driving forces of this decision was in response to a surge in new gun ownership.
Gun sales are surging in many U.S. states, especially in those hit hardest by the coronavirus — California, New York and Washington. But there’s also been an uptick in less-affected areas, with some first-time gun buyers fearing an unraveling of the social order and some gun owners worried that the government might use its emergency powers to restrict gun purchases.Federal background checks jumped 34% in February as gun sales skyrocketed. Many people have ordered weapons and are awaiting delivery. — LATimes
Not surprisingly, that plan went over like a lead balloon.
NEW: LA County Sheriff says the closing of gun stores isnt about the 2nd amendment or banning of gun sales, it’s about first time buyers flooding stores and creating a social distancing issue at a non essential businesses. No citations yet. Voluntarily compliance so far. @FOXLA
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) March 24, 2020
The argument for closing them down seems to have collapsed when examined by their own lawyers:
NEW: LA County Sheriff says the closing of gun stores isnt about the 2nd amendment or banning of gun sales, it’s about first time buyers flooding stores and creating a social distancing issue at a non essential businesses. No citations yet. Voluntarily compliance so far. @FOXLA
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) March 24, 2020
But the Sheriff makes his real reason clear:
The Sheriff maintained that he believes gun stores should not be open to the general public right now because he feels there are too many first time buyers making panic purchases of guns they don’t know how to operate and they aren’t familiar with California’s strict laws.
“You can’t shoot a virus,” Villanueva said. — FoxNews
If only there were some kind of a clue as to what is driving demand for personal protection…
https://twitter.com/SleepyAddicts/status/1242603163561029632
Oh, yeah. THAT.
Maybe it’s not the virus they are protecting themselves from, Sheriff.
