Release the inmates and close the gun stores!
The Los Angeles County sheriff said in an interview Tuesday that gun stores in his jurisdiction are “nonessential businesses” and will be forced to close down during the coronavirus outbreak.
Alex Villanueva, the sheriff, told the Los Angeles Times that gun shops—like strip clubs or night clubs—are nonessential businesses and therefore must close. He insisted that deputies will not “haul people off to jail,” but said if these stores don’t close their doors, they “will be cited.”
Villanueva told Fox 11 that he is adding an additional 1,300 deputies and releasing 1,700 nonviolent inmates from county jail to help stop the spread of coronavirus. Other jurisdictions have put in place similar guidelines.
Villanueva blasted politicians in Los Angeles County for leaving out law enforcement in press conferences and said they have been unclear in their message. He pointed to the number of people who disregarded the state’s stay-at-home order last weekend.
“Then after the fact, the same people delivering the message were complaining about why people weren’t listening to the message, perhaps because they should have used authority figures the community recognizes that would be the enforcers of it to deliver the message with far greater impact,” he said.
Gun dealerships across the U.S. have reported a surge in firearms sales amid the coronavirus outbreak and the government’s sweeping response to try and limit the spread.
Gov. Ned Lamont, D-Conn., announced Monday that gun stores were “essential” and could stay open during the state’s stay at home order that takes effect. Gov. J.B. Pritzker, D-Ill., also issued an executive order that listed gun stores as “essential” businesses.
“When an anti-gun Democrat Governor declares that essential businesses includes firearm and ammunition suppliers and retailers for purposes of safety and security, that is really a big deal. Every Governor should copy the Illinois example when issuing stay in place and business closure orders in the face of the Corona Virus,” Alan Gottlieb, a gun-rights advocate, told Breitbart.