Department of Homeland Security says gun stores should stay open!

Since the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak began, gun-grabbing politicians across the US have attempted to exploit the emergency to force gun stores, firearm manufacturers, and shooting ranges to close their doors. California is only one of the more prominent examples of state governments that are attempting to deprive Americans of their Second Amendment rights, although this has been challenged in court by the NRA and other advocacy groups. Several other states, counties, and cities are attempting to close firearms dealers down as well.

The move is especially controversial now, when sales of firearms and ammunition have spiked as Americans face an unprecedented crisis and an uncertain future, and are choosing to exercise their Second Amendment freedoms to be prepared for whatever may transpire in the coming weeks and months.

Their concern seems justified, especially in light of statistics such as the fact that approximately 700 New Jersey police officers have tested positive for the coronavirus thus far, according to a report by Time magazine. If trends like this continue to multiply throughout the country, who will Americans have to rely on for security other than themselves?

Recognizing the danger, Christopher Krebs, the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (a division of the Department of Homeland Security), has issued a guideline saying that states should consider gun stores and shooting ranges to be essential businesses and thus be allowed to remain open for the duration of the crisis.

The statement said that “workers supporting the operation of firearm or ammunition product manufacturers, retailers, importers, distributors and shooting ranges” are all considered an “essential critical infrastructure workforce” by the administration, according to a report by Reuters. Although the guideline does not count as legislation, state governors can use it as the basis for their own policies.

The Department of Homeland Security’s statement didn’t sit well with anti-gun activists such as Kris Brown, President of the Brady Campaign, who referred to the guideline as “ill-conceived and dangerous.”

Brown added, “Brady continues to affirm the rights of state and local governments to temporarily close these businesses and opposes baseless lawsuits that claim otherwise, such as the NRA’s against the state of California.”

There’s no surprises there, but it’s telling that anti-gunners see this emergency as nothing more than an opportunity to do things that they’ve wanted to do all along while ignoring the needs of ordinary, law-abiding citizens.

The fight continues as American citizens continue to stand up for their rights amidst the tyranny of local would-be dictators. But we can be sure that whatever happens in the days to come, the armed American will stand in the vanguard for the defense of himself, his family, and community – just as he always has.