Michigan’s governor has done a wonderful job of roiling people across the nation with her petty, tyrannical responses to the Chinese virus pandemic. And as much as she doesn’t like guns, though, she has not moved to close gun shops. Yet. This, despite not naming firearms retailers as “essential” in her executive order shuttering non-essential business.
We reported on Governor “Half” Whitmer’s heavy-handed tactics earlier.
The Michigan Coalition for Responsible Gun Owners offered a nice summary from on the ground in the Wolverine State in their emailed “MCRGO MONDAY E’NEWS”:
Shortly after Governor Whitmer issued her expanded and extended Stay Home order on April 9, the NRA-ILA sent out an e-mail titled “Michigan: Gov. Whitmer Excludes Gun Stores From “Critical” Designation.” The e-mail was based on Whitmer incorporating by reference an older set of guidelines from the federal government that specifically excluded later federal guidelines, apparently, in an effort to be as narrow as possible. In her previous order, she had incorporated the later federal guidelines that list gun shops as essential.
This e-mail led to a great deal of confusion among Michigan gun store owners and their customers. To make it very clear, no Michigan gun shops have been closed to date by the State of Michigan based on either the original or expanded Stay Home order. Attorney General Dana Nessel hasn’t been shy about going after businesses she considers to be in violation of Whitmer’s executive orders. She puts out press releases about it nearly every day. But she’s never once mentioned firearms dealers.
Two gun shops in Southwest Michigan were told they had to close by local police but both reopened shortly after. The Michigan State Police and Michigan Attorney General are not attempting to close down gun stores yet. If that happens, there will certainly be a lawsuit seeking to block them. Some stores that sell guns, like Dunhams, have closed at the owner’s discretion either due to lack of stock or the protect the health of their employees and the general public. Many Michigan gun stores remain open for business taking responsible safety precautions to limit customer contact.
Of course, Michigan’s chief executive could demand gun shop closures at any time. Clearly she doesn’t mind negative publicity. For instance, The American Spectator wrote about her Monday in a piece titled “The Worst Governor in America.”
But the good news for Michigan residents — at least for now — who need firearms or ammunition to tool up, many local gun shops remain open.
So go out and support them with your leftover Coronavirus relief funds (arriving this Wednesday according to Treasury Secretary Mnuchin). You local firearms retailer will appreciate it if you do.