Please see my statement regarding clarification on essential businesses during the #Covid19 Crisis: #LASD #FlattenTheCurve #SheriffV pic.twitter.com/tJSMyQrGDo
— Alex Villanueva (@LACoSheriff) March 31, 2020
Another win for the right to armed self defense. Sheriff Alex Villanueva — for the second time — has reversed himself and announced that LA County gun stores will not be forced to close by his department. Villanueva had been sued by the Firearms Policy Coalition, the Second Amendment Foundation and the NRA (among others) over the closures.
On March 28, 2020, the United States Department of Homeland Security issued an Advisory Memorandum in regard to Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers during COVID-19 response. Although explicitly advisory in nature, nonetheless the federal memorandum is persuasive given its national scope. Included in the list of essential critical infrastructure workers are workers supporting the operation of firearm or ammunition product manufacturers, retailers, importers, distributors, and shooting ranges.
Based on this further input from the federal government, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department will not order or recommend business that sell or repair firearms or sell ammunition; will investigate reports of improper health practices such as poor sanitation or failure to maintain social distancing at all businesses; and forward detailed reports of unlawful health conditions to the District Attorney for their review and consideration.
– LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva
