The National Rifle Association is suing to have California gun stores declared essential businesses amid Gov. Gavin Newsom’s coronavirus emergency.
The NRA, along with several other plaintiffs including two individuals, filed the lawsuit Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
Newsom is among as the defendants listed in the lawsuit, as is Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva, who on Thursday issued a statement that gun stores in the county are not an essential business and that they must close to the general public.
…“Municipalities who target lawful gun stores for closure aren’t promoting safety—by weaponizing their politics to disarm you and your loved ones, these shameless partisans are recklessly promoting a gun-control agenda that suffocates your self-defense rights when you need them most,” said Jason Ouimet of the NRA.
The lawsuit contends that Newsom’s order, and Villanueva’s enforcement of that order, is depriving lawful gun owners of their Second Amendment rights.
“The circumstances posed by the (COVID-19) outbreak are noteworthy, but do not excuse unlawful government infringements upon freedom. In fact, the importance of maintaining the ongoing activities of essential businesses for the safety, health, and welfare of Californians makes (the plaintiffs’) point: the need for enhanced safety during uncertain times is precisely when (the plaintiffs) and their members must be able to exercise their fundamental rights to keep and bear arms,” according to the lawsuit.
Andy D
Article URL : https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article241571621.html