Trump Administration Deems Gun Sales A 'Critical' Activity Amid COVID-19 Crisis
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The Trump administration has determined that the firearms industry — from manufacturing to retail sales and shooting ranges — is a “critical” service that should continue to operate amid the coronavirus crisis.
The firearms industry was added Saturday to a federal list created a week earlier of “essential critical infrastructure” elements during the COVID-19 emergency.
“Workers supporting the operation of firearm or ammunition product manufacturers, retailers, importers, distributors and shooting ranges” are “typically considered essential to continued critical infrastructure viability,” said an updated statement by the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. The new statement was listed under a “law enforcement” and “public safety” section.
Other critical operations on the lengthy list include energy, telecommunications, food production, emergency services, government offices, transportation and health care.
The list is not a directive, but advisory for states and municipal governments as many shut down inessential businesses to help stem the spread of COVID-19.
It’s “intended to help state, local, tribal and territorial officials as they work to protect their communities while ensuring continuity of functions critical to public health and safety, as well as economic and national security,” said the CISA statement.
The Los Angeles County sheriff shut down gun stores this month after California Governor Gavin Newsom left decisions on critical infrastructure up to county governments. Gun groups immediately sued.
The addition of the firearms industry as a critical operation comes amid lobbying by gun groups as firearm and ammunition sales skyrocket across the nation.
The move was immediately blasted by gun-control advocates. The Brady Campaign called it “contemptible, ill-conceived and dangerous.”
Adam Skaggs, chief counsel and policy director of...
