Are firearms one of the "essentials" in an epidemic? Two days after California Gavin Newsom's decision to ban outings and activities "Not essential" to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 epidemic, the debate took over the Golden State.
Friday, March 20, the owner of the Solar Tactical gun store in Castro Valley, a suburb of East Bay, 50 kilometers from San Francisco, had to close the store. Until then, Mike Addis had good business. Customers were lining up: the majority of new buyers, who had never owned weapons but wanted to be able to protect their families during this troubled time, the merchant told local media.
When county authorities ordered the closure of businesses, except food and DIY stores, outdoor markets, pharmacies, Mike Addis refused to comply, saying the sale of weapons to fire is an activity "Essential" that no authority has the power to prohibit: their possession is guaranteed by the second amendment to the Constitution of the United States. Concession to the state of health emergency: it has limited to six the number of amateurs who can be simultaneously in its establishment.
The Alameda county prosecutor had to intervene, supported by social media. Finally, the owner lowered the curtain, not without leaving a poster promising that it would reopen soon after consulting his lawyers. He lamented the character "Subjective" stores affected by the closings, especially as large chains like Walmart, which also sell weapons, are not affected.
"The government will not have the means to defend us"
In the rest of the state, the closures are of variable geometry. In Santa Clara, the sheriff spotted an open gun shop (along with fifty-five other non-essential businesses: florists, hairdressers, car washers, video game vendors, etc.) and threatened to take action. In San José, Mayor Sam Liccardo closed the “Bullseye Bishop”: “ We are witnessing a rush for food, he lamented. The last thing we want is a gun rush. "
But on social networks, supporters of weapons defend the rebels. And they denounce the fact that cannabis stores are considered essential – in San Francisco for example – but not the gun shops while the state frees prisoners to try to avoid epidemics in prison …
