Blue or red? This should not matter, the lives of millions are at stake.
Over the past few weeks, more and more states have issued ‘Stay Home, Stay Healthy’ proclamations. As of yet, there is no federal order forcing non-essential businesses to close. As a result, each state is taking different precautions. The definition of essential business varies from state to state. These variations have led to conflict between party lines, specifically in reference to gun stores.
According to The Seattle Times, many gun stores in both Washington and California are refusing to comply with executive orders from the governor, claiming that they should be labeled as essential businesses.
Gun store owners, such as Lynnwood Gun’s Tiffany Teasdale, argue that it is a constitutional right to purchase a gun and that sales have even increased in the past month as more and more Asian Americans feel unsafe due to the backlash following the coronavirus outbreak. In fact, Teasdale’s daily gun sales have increased from 25 guns per day to 125.
While the increase in sales is concerning given that it is related to a sense of fear in our community brought on by the overwhelming nature of this crisis, that is an issue for another day. The process of buying a gun in Washington State is fairly simple, but it is a process that takes time and in-person paperwork. By nature, selling/ buying guns requires face-to-face contact, which does not comply with the precautions deemed necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Washington State not only requires background checks, but a questionnaire and proof of ID.
This process takes time, and cannot be effectively adapted to a no-contact system whilst following Washington regulations. It would be unsafe to lose that personal interaction between licensed gun retailers and gun buyers. As COVID-19 continues to spread, it is becoming more vital that businesses able to remain open adopt no-contact delivery systems and promote social distancing. Cleaning and regulating customer occupancy can only go so far when a store serves dozens or even hundreds of individuals per day. The best option then becomes closures.
According to Time Magazine, the Trump administration has ruled gun shops as essential. The Department of Homeland Security has issued an advisory to the same effect, but both have stated that this ruling is meant as a guideline for local governments, not as a federal mandate— yet, most states agree. According to U.S. News, 30 of the 43 states who have issued ‘stay-at-home’ orders have deemed gun retailers essential. The states that have chosen to force closures tend to be traditionally blue. As a result, this debate has moved into one regarding gun control and the need to check the governor’s power in a state of emergency.
While the argument based on constitutional infringement holds some clout, what many individuals forget is that the mandated closures of gun stores are not a part of gun control. This is not a partisan issue, this is a health issue.
The more people leave their homes, the more this virus will spread. It is that simple. What I suggest is that we stop labeling those who are against closures as gun enthusiasts, and those for closures as gun control advocates.
After declaring a state of emergency, the governor of a state is given the power necessary to do as he sees fit. This being said, Governor Jay Inslee must weigh his proclamations against constitutional rights. In this case, limiting the sale of any good outside of basic survival seems to be the best choice for the majority of Washingtonians.
Guns themselves are not being taken away. The ability to purchase a gun is simply being delayed.
I am not stating that we should forget the economic impact that these closures will have on gun stores, but that we should recognize that these closures affect all small businesses. Gun stores should not be exempt on the basis of constitutional freedom.
It is impossible to safely sell guns in Washington State according to gun laws already in place. The crisis we are facing now is one that is unprecedented and impossible to prepare for, but it is temporary. These measures being taken by Governor Inslee are temporary. We must remember that these orders are not legislation meant to limit us, but choices made to better protect us in these uncertain times.
The closure of gun stores is not a partisan issue—it is not gun control. Closures of gun stores, along with the closures of other businesses are what will aid our community in preventing the spread of this disease so we can return to normalcy in the near future.
