Crime & Safety
Sheriff Backs Off Effort Close Guns Stores Amid Coronavirus
Sheriff Alex Villanueva reversed course on efforts to close gun stores after federal officials declared them essential businesses.
LOS ANGELES, CA — In the latest back and forth over gun sales during the pandemic, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva announced Monday he will back off efforts to close gun stores as non-essential businesses under the "Safer At Home" order.
Crowds have been lining up at local gun stores since the outbreak began more than two weeks ago, and Villanueva's efforts to halt gun store sales quickly prompted an NRA lawsuit and a series of conflicting directives from government officials. Villanueva has been vocal about the potential for domestic violence tragedies with inexperienced new gun owners living under crowded conditions during the shutdown.
The change comes after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued an advisory memorandum Saturday that included firearm and ammunition manufacturers, retailers, importers, distributors and shooting ranges as essential, the department said.
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"Although explicitly advisory in nature, nonetheless the federal memorandum is persuasive given its national scope," Villanueva said.
Villanueva had previously ordered gun stores to close, then suspended those efforts after the county counsel's office declared gun stores essential businesses during the COVID-19 outbreak.
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On Thursday, Villanueva ordered all gun stores to close in unincorporated areas of the county and the 42 cities where it provides law enforcement. Villanueva said Monday evening his department will no longer order or recommend businesses that sell or repair firearms or sell ammunition to close.
The department will continue to "investigate reports of improper health practices such as poor sanitation or failure to maintain social distancing at all businesses," according to Villanueva.
Villanueva and state Gov. Gavin Newsom were sued Friday in federal court by the NRA and other groups for allegedly using the coronavirus pandemic as an excuse to close gun stores in violation of the U.S. Constitution.
City News Service and Patch Staffer contributed to this report.
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