Reacting to published reports that some 700 New Jersey police officers have tested positive for the Coronavirus, and thus are quarantined, “underscores the importance of the Second Amendment Foundation’s lawsuit to require the state to open gun stores,” according to a news release issued early Sunday.
The revelation came one day after the Trump administration’s Department of Homeland Security released a new guideline titled “Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce” that includes workers in the firearms industry, from manufacturers down to shooting ranges, in the definition of “essential” workforce. The memo states: “Workers supporting the operation of firearm or ammunition product manufacturers, retailers, importers, distributors, and shooting ranges” are considered essential.
According to the DHS memorandum, “It is not, nor should it be considered, a federal directive or standard. Additionally, this advisory list is not intended to be the exclusive list of critical infrastructure sectors, workers, and functions that should continue during the COVID-19 response across all jurisdictions. Individual jurisdictions should add or subtract essential workforce categories based on their own requirements and discretion.”
However, the guideline may give state and local officials reason to reconsider shutdowns of gun stores and related businesses as “non-essential.” Over the past week, lawsuits have been filed against New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva, and Wake County, N.C. Sheriff Gerald M. Baker, over their orders to close gun shops in their respective jurisdictions.
Their decisions may be scrutinized with the New Jersey revelation about infected police officers. Although New Jersey officials offered assurances that there are lots of police on the job, SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan Gottlieb noted, “This is exactly why the Foundation lawsuit to force New Jersey to re-open gun stores during this emergency is so important. People need to be able to obtain the means of self-defense in times such as these. This is why the right to keep and bear arms is essential.”
Following Saturday’s release of the new DHS guideline, Gottlieb observed, “Every freedom loving American owes President Donald Trump and his administration a very big thank you for protecting our Second Amendment rights. This is another Trump promise made and promise kept.”
The Evergreen State-based gun rights leader said it comes as no surprise that peace officers have been sidelined.
“Police interact daily with scores, if not hundreds of people,” Gottlieb observed. “It would defy odds if none became infected, and assurances by the authorities that they still have the manpower to respond to emergencies don’t mean much to people when crimes are happening right now and police are several minutes, or longer, away.
“Gov. Phil Murphy needs to understand the Second Amendment wasn’t written for duck hunters,” he added. “The right to keep and bear arms is enshrined in the Constitution to assure every citizen has the means to defend himself or herself when help may not arrive in time, or maybe not arrive at all.”
While the establishment media may be surprised by the renewed interest in owning firearms during the current panic, Gottlieb and other gun rights advocates aren’t.
“Instinctively,” he said, “people headed to those places where they could buy guns and ammunition, which underscores just how essential those businesses really are.”
To find them closed has caused no small amount of alarm and frustration.
“We’re praying for the quick recovery of all those stricken Garden State police officers,” Gottlieb said, “and hoping for the safety and good health of all men and women in law enforcement. But in the meantime, we will press our lawsuit to assure that all citizens can defend themselves and their families during this time of crisis.
“Phil Murphy has around-the-clock protection,” Gottlieb noted, “but average citizens do not enjoy that luxury. The governor needs to lift his closure order now, and we will press our lawsuit to make sure he does.”
