The Trump administration issued guidance that said the firearm industry should be allowed to remain open during the coronavirus pandemic.
A memo released Saturday by the Department of Homeland Security said workers supporting the operation of firearm or ammunition product manufacturers, retailers, importers, distributors, and shooting ranges are part of its “essential critical infrastructure workforce” advisory list during the COVID-19 virus response effort.
Besides the section for law enforcement, public safety, and other first responders under which the firearm industry fell, the long advisory list also included sections for healthcare/public health, food and agriculture, energy, water and wastewater, transportation and logistics, and many others. Homeland Security developed the list in collaboration with other federal agencies, state and local governments, and the private sector.
Several states, including California, New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts, have deemed gun stores to be “nonessential” businesses during the coronavirus pandemic, forcing the shops to shutter. The National Rifle Association and several other gun rights groups filed a lawsuit against the state of California, alleging such closures violate the Second Amendment rights of the state’s citizens.
Other states such as Ohio, Illinois, and Michigan have classified these businesses as essential and allowed the stores to remain open under the “stay at home” statewide orders.
Several states, including California, had seen a surge in gun purchases since the outbreak began.
The memo from Christopher Krebs, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, said the list is “advisory in nature. It is not, nor should it be considered, a federal directive or standard.”
Still, the National Shooting Sports Foundation applauded the move.
“We are deeply appreciative to the Trump Administration and Department of Homeland Security for recognizing the vital role our industry fulfills in our nation,” Lawrence Keane, senior vice president and general counsel for the NSSF, said in a statement.
“We have seen over the past week hundreds of thousands, even millions of Americans choosing to exercise their right to keep and bear arms to ensure their safety and the safety of loved ones during these uncertain times. Americans must not be denied the ability to exercise that right to lawfully purchase and acquire firearms during times of emergency,” he added.
In his memo, Krebs stressed: “Decisions informed by this list should also take into consideration additional public health considerations based on the specific COVID-19-related concerns of particular jurisdictions.”
“This list is advisory in nature. 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,” he added. “Individual jurisdictions should add or subtract essential workforce categories based on their own requirements and discretion.”
