Trump coronavirus guidance on keeping gun stores open draws criticism

By Lawrence Hurley

 

FILE PHOTO: A pedestrian pushes a stroller as people wait in line outside to buy supplies at the Martin B. Retting, Inc. gun store amid fears of the global growth of coronavirus cases, in Culver City, California, U.S. March 15, 2020. REUTERS/Patrick T. Fallon

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Gun control activists on Monday criticized guidance issued by President Donald Trump's administration recommending that states find that gun stores are critical businesses that can stay open during the coronavirus crisis.

 

The new guidance, issued on Saturday by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, offers the administration's views on which workers are essential during the pandemic at a time when state governors have ordered numerous "non-essential" businesses to close to try to limit the spread of the virus. The agency is part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

 

Gun control advocates said gun rights groups are sowing fear during the pandemic in order to boost firearms sales, adding that increased gun ownership during the crisis could lead to more domestic violence.

 

"Adding more guns to more homes during a time of more anxiety could lead to more deaths. And that's the last thing we need when our hospitals are already bursting at the seams," said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety, a leading gun control group.

 

Kris Brown, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, said gun industry groups have "exploited the current crisis to further the interests of gun manufacturers."

 

The agency's guidance stated that "workers supporting the operation of firearm or ammunition product manufacturers, retailers, importers, distributors and shooting ranges" are among those the administration considers vital during the crisis. Other essential businesses listed included healthcare facilities, grocery stores, transportation companies and the energy sector.

 

The guidance carries no formal legal weight. Governors, who decide the content of emergency orders like those already in place in numerous states, do not have to follow it though they could cite it as justification for their decisions.

 

The list is intended to help states "protect their communities, while ensuring continuity of functions critical to public health and safety," Christopher Krebs, the agency's director, wrote in a memorandum issued with the new guidance.

 

The administration's intervention has been welcomed by gun rights groups, which have been lobbying to keep gun stores open and in some case filing lawsuits in several states including California and New Jersey.

 

"In these uncertain times, the ability to protect yourself - and to acquire firearms, magazines and ammunition - should not be ignored," said Erich Pratt, senior vice president of Gun Owners of America.

 

The most influential U.S. gun rights group, the National Rifle Association, also backed the administration's move. Trump, seeking re-election on Nov. 3, and other Republicans are closely aligned with the NRA.

 

The dispute over guns is one of several new fronts in the U.S. culture wars on issues including abortion and voting rights that have emerged as the pandemic causes widespread disruption of daily life.

 

(Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Additional reporting by Andrew Chung in New York; Editing by Will Dunham)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-03-31

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13 minutes ago, webfact said:

gun stores are critical businesses that can stay open during the coronavirus crisis.

They are not critical businesses, regardless of any virus, or other health issues ! 

Edited March 30, 20206 yr by Thaiwrath

14 minutes ago, webfact said:

"In these uncertain times, the ability to  protect yourself - and to acquire firearms, magazines and ammunition - should not be ignored,"

Priorities! Yeee Haaa!  ???? Git er dun!

 

 

Edited March 30, 20206 yr by PatOngo

7 minutes ago, Thaiwrath said:

They are not critical businesses, regardless of any virus, or other health issues ! 

I think you will find that in US they would be considered to be 'critical' by very many .... ????

 

When the virus morphs into a brain eating virus...causing people to become unable to control themselves...guns will be essential...but gun stores will be closed...????

Anxious people locked up at home for weeks on end with people they’re normally glad to get away from for at least half of every working day.

 

Add guns into the equation and let’s see what happens.

45 minutes ago, rvaviator said:

I think you will find that in US they would be considered to be 'critical' by very many .... ????

 

Yep. Great job in acknowledging the 2nd Am and its vital role in keeping the US safe. The number of folks out buying guns  and restocking illustrates how the public feels about their fundamental Right To Keep and Bear Arms

I think that it will be a good idea to solve the gun issue in the state is for the government to decree a mandatory law for every household to own a gun and infect make a law that you must own a gun, thus no more arguments about guns ownership and too many guns in the hand of people...

Look.  Guns suck !    Killing sucks !   Defending yourself without a gun against people that have guns............ really sucks.

 

 

 

10 minutes ago, ezzra said:

I think that it will be a good idea to solve the gun issue in the state is for the government to decree a mandatory law for every household to own a gun and infect make a law that you must own a gun, thus no more arguments about guns ownership and too many guns in the hand of people...

Yep, we went to the UK last summer, my wife was convinced there was a similar law in place with regards to dog ownership.

Edited March 31, 20206 yr by sungod

In cities like Los Angeles and NYC, shop owners are literally boarding up there store. 

Anyone thinking that the city's masses will come together is delusional. Every time there is a disaster in one of the larger US cities, all Hades breaks loose! 

They worry about guns ?

3 minutes ago, spiekerjozef said:

They worry about guns ?

I would be worrying more about ammo than loowipe myself. Nothing keeps bad people more honest than a lot of good guys with guns.

14 minutes ago, Nyezhov said:

I would be worrying more about ammo than loowipe myself. Nothing keeps bad people more honest than a lot of good guys with guns.

and loowipe not gonna help when the S**T hits the fan..............

Guns are weapons of war and not needed by anyone.  The argument about self-defence is totally invalid and makes people more likely to shoot first, ask questions afterwards.  This herd mentality needs to be stopped!  "he's got one so I must have one!" is a recipe for disaster.  Only lawless societies consider guns a necessity!  They are an abomination and should be banned!  Most civilised countries have strict laws which prevent the average citizen from possessing firearms!  

 

1 hour ago, Nyezhov said:

Yep. Great job in acknowledging the 2nd Am and its vital role in keeping the US safe. The number of folks out buying guns  and restocking illustrates how the public feels about their fundamental Right To Keep and Bear Arms

Yea great job, shows Americans are gun crazy... guns essential ???? kinda like the Brits with calling alcohol shops essential. I guess every country has its own strange things. I wonder if they keep the "coffee" shops open in the Netherlands. 

1 hour ago, Nyezhov said:

Yep. Great job in acknowledging the 2nd Am and its vital role in keeping the US safe. The number of folks out buying guns  and restocking illustrates how the public feels about their fundamental Right To Keep and Bear Arms

The number of folks out buying guns and restocking illustrates the level of paranoia in America.

2 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Anxious people locked up at home for weeks on end with people they’re normally glad to get away from for at least half of every working day.

 

Add guns into the equation and let’s see what happens.

That's the point.  If an individual has been cooped up for weeks and just can't take it anymore, he needs to have the tools to end it all which fits the definition of "essential."  Having the means to blow your brains out (and perhaps family members also) is certainly as essential as healthcare facilities, grocery stores, transportation companies and the energy sector.

 

Please note heavy sarcasm.

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

guidance issued by President Donald Trump's administration recommending that states find that gun stores are critical businesses that can stay open during the coronavirus crisis.

Got to keep those nra campaign donations rolling in. 

12 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

The number of folks out buying guns and restocking illustrates the level of paranoia in America.

Just becasue you are paranoid, doesnt mean they arent out to get you.

Thomas Pynchon

read him, you have time, you cant flail away for a while

8 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

Got to keep those nra campaign donations rolling in. 

5 million members excersizing their rights under the US Constituition.

3 minutes ago, Nyezhov said:

Just becasue you are paranoid, doesnt mean they arent out to get you.

Thomas Pynchon

read him, you have time, you cant flail away for a while

Just to round out my education, how do you shoot a virus? 0.22, or cruise missile?

All is not lost, my GF is still keeping up the massages.

Edited March 31, 20206 yr by Lacessit

16 minutes ago, robblok said:

Yea great job, shows Americans are gun crazy... guns essential ???? kinda like the Brits with calling alcohol shops essential. I guess every country has its own strange things. I wonder if they keep the "coffee" shops open in the Netherlands. 

They keep the dispensaries open in LA and Denver. Vital stuff. Id be home with my bong and an AR-15.

1 minute ago, Lacessit said:

Just to round out my education, how do you shoot a virus? 0.22, or cruise missile?

Petri dish, culture medium, then I would probably be thinking Incendiary rounds.

23 minutes ago, robblok said:

Yea great job, shows Americans are gun crazy... guns essential ???? kinda like the Brits with calling alcohol shops essential. I guess every country has its own strange things. I wonder if they keep the "coffee" shops open in the Netherlands. 

Apparently Australians regard toilet rolls as essential.

Thank goodness there are good reasons for this and that it is not a politically motivated decision.

You reckon Umberto Eco is too heavy, but you want me to read Thomas Pynchon?

12 minutes ago, Nyezhov said:

They keep the dispensaries open in LA and Denver. Vital stuff. Id be home with my bong and an AR-15.

I suppose that's a better combination than alcohol and an AR-15 - just.

15 minutes ago, Nyezhov said:

5 million members excersizing their rights under the US Constituition.

That might be true but it does not negate or disprove my point. 

Edited March 31, 20206 yr by Bluespunk
Missing word

37 minutes ago, pdtokyo said:

What would we know? 

Not much on this issue. Your Austrialian, a citizen of a thinly populated country with a political tradition as subjects of the crown, and emasculation of the traditional rights of self defense because of the lack of a written constitution. Your post already misnterprets the USCon 2ndA. So really, any argument you would have is meaningless, as to the issue.