Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, residents of Los Angeles rushed to local gun and ammunition stores in preparation for stay-at-home orders and home-protection during this global health crisis. Many Los Angeles residents were surprised and angered to learn that gun stores throughout Los Angeles were ordered closed after being deemed, “non-essential.”
At the beginning of coronavirus closure orders, Los Angeles Sheriff Alex Villanueva quickly announced that gun stores would be ordered temporary closed throughout the unincorporated areas of the county and the 42 cities where the sheriff’s department provides law enforcement in an effort to curb “panic gun-buying” and misuse of firearms by would-be new gun owners. Sheriff Villanueva deferred to individual chiefs of police to decide whether to close gun stores in the remaining 45 cities in Los Angeles County that are outside Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department jurisdiction. Subsequently, the City of Los Angeles ordered closed all gun shops throughout the duration of the coronavirus pandemic and many other individual cities in Los Angeles followed suit.
However, on March 31, 2020, Sheriff Villanueva announced that he would no longer order that gun stores be closed during the pandemic, citing the Advisory Memorandum issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security stating that the firearms and ammunition industry is included in the list of essential businesses. Cities outside of the sheriff’s department jurisdiction still retain discretion to order the closure of gun stores within their cities.
Amid this pandemic, California Governor Newson gave discretion to each of the state’s 58 counties to decide whether to deem gun stores as nonessential businesses subject to closure. Gun shops remain at-risk for further closures as the pandemic progresses, it is best to call the shop prior to arrival for a better understanding of their operation status. For example, as of the date of this posting, gun stores within LA City remain closed, however, you can still purchase a firearm in the city of Burbank subject to compliance with social distancing protocols.
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