Tip of the hat to “The Trace” for doing the legwork on this. Below you’ll find a map that shows which states have closed gun stores due to the COVID-19 crisis:
Those states that have put the squeeze on FFLs — WA, MI, NY, NJ, NM, DE, MA — have done so because officials believe gun stores are “non-essential” businesses and therefore should be closed under the various shelter-in-place directives aimed at “flattening the curve” or slowing the spread of the novel coronavirus, as GunsAmerica previously reported,
More than a handful of other states have taken the exact opposite approach to ensure gun stores stay open during the crisis so that citizens can continue to exercise their right to keep and bear arms.
SEE ALSO: SAF Sues NJ Governor for Deprivation of Rights
While one can probably guess which states sought to protect 2A rights and which states were quick to suppress 2A rights, there have been a few surprises.
Gov. Ned Lamont of Connecticut, a Democrat with an “F” rating from the NRA, for example, declared gun shops “essential” businesses. and allowed them to remain open.
The nation’s gun lobby was quick to applaud Gov. Lamont.
“Your NRA would like to thank Gov. Lamont for upholding the right of law-abiding citizens to defend themselves and their loved ones,” said the NRA-ILA, in a statement.
SEE ALSO: Ammo Makers, Gun Manufacturers Issue Statements Responding to COVID-19 Crisis
The Second Amendment Foundation is actively suing New Jersey for shutting down its background check system, arguing that the decision to do so flatly prohibits the sale and purchase of firearms and ammunition.
SAF is also putting together lawsuits against Washington, Massachusetts and jurisdictions in California and North Carolina, among others. Sending out the signal that if you shut down FFLs you’re going to get sued.
Perhaps that’s why Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf reversed course this week, revising his “stay at home” order to allow gun shops to conduct firearm transfers. Denying 2A rights isn’t worth the legal troubles.
PRESIDENT TRUMP just said gun stores are essential ….That should change everything for the GOOD
PA Democrat Governor Wolf closed the gun stores prior to this article and the PA Supreme Court ruled it’s okay.
Still open in Michigan. Baroda
The bottom line is tyrannical Democrats in the Democratic fiefdoms who hate guns, law-abiding gun owners and the Second Amendment are using this crisis to further their Democratic agenda of total control over their subjects. When this crisis passes the people need to remember this and remove these traitorous tyrants by any means necessary.
Wow Brian, that is about as paranoid as one can get! Love those 2 line, anonymous memes from Russia much? Crazy talk!
Gun stores in Delaware are open again by appointment only. Shutting them was a violation of the 2nd Amendment and the Delaware constitution.
In HI on the island of Kauai at least, we can still buy however the PD records office and firearms registration office is closed, so not legally allowed to take possession of said purchase. . . Just like we’re nominally a ccw state, but the sheriff won’t issue any permits. They closed the stores without actually closing the stores.
Wa gun stores still open. Law Enforcement still doing background checks for sales of hand guns and semi auto rifles. Dealers still doing background checks for other firearms and long guns
Looking at the map, all the states that are yellow have Democrat Governors. These governors should be run out of town. Hard to believe that this country votes in trash!!!
Amen brother,how about a little tar and feathers for good measure!
How about a good strong hemp rope???
I live in one of those states that have been shuttered. I just spoke with my ffl. He said that he can still do transfers by appointment. Don’t know how of if he differs from a “store”.
Now, the question is, will the place that I bought from, before all this stuff broke loose, will ship to my state. I have seen some gun selling sites specifically list the shuttered states as “cannot ship to” on their sites.
My store didn’t at the time of my order.
Maine’s Democrat Governor has ordered all gun stores/FFL’s closed as “non-essential businesses” — Kittery Trading Post was the big one that got the letter ordering them to shut down yesterday. People here (except the liberals running the state) are pretty ticked off. Pot stores are “essential businesses” but a gun store is not?
When a maniac is kicking-in your door offer him/her/it some weed and talk it out.
Be sure to take note come election day.
It’s way past time to do something meaningful about those leftists who’ve crept into positions of power in this country.
Vote ’em out!
In Michigan, the Governor’s Executive Order did NOT close gun stores. A few have voluntarily closed, but many are still open.
Gun stores are not closed in Oklahoma. Due to social distancing stores are limiting the number of patrons in the store but they are trying to accomodate everyone.
In general, no surprises. The case for carving off a chunk of the country for collectivist rabbits becomes stronger.
Politicians in Washington, Michigan, New York, New Jersey, New Mexico, Delaware and Massachusetts really did not surprise anyone with their shut-down orders. They want to contain the virus, or so they say.
Did any of them order the closing of TV stations and newspaper offices? That would be the acid test, no? Then we could be sure that not only are they Marxist anti gun pricks but they are also dangerous to all of your rights not just the glorious Second Amendment, which come to think of it is an oximoron.
The map indicates Oklahoma as uncertain. Oklahoma has a law that prohibits the closure of gun stores and the sale of ammunition during any emergency
Thanks for that info.
Excellent news.
None of which means that some judge may decide to ignore state law, and ignore your rights in the process. They literally do it every day.