LA County Sheriff Drops Effort to Close Gun Stores

Villanueva ordered shutdown last week
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Mar 31, 2020 12:45 AM CDT
LA County Sheriff Drops Effort to Close Gun Stores
A gun shop Tuesday, March 24, 2020, in Culver City, Calif.   (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva, who was sued by gun-rights groups after trying to shut down firearms dealers in the wake of coronavirus concerns, said Monday that he is abandoning the effort. The sheriff said he's heeding a federal Department of Homeland Security advisory issued on Saturday that listed gun and ammunition dealers as "essential critical infrastructure workers." Villanueva called the non-binding memo "persuasive" and announced that his department won't order or recommend closing businesses that sell or repair firearms or sell ammunition in the nation's most populous county, the AP reports. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has said that each of the state's 58 counties can decide for themselves whether to list firearms dealers as nonessential businesses that should be subject to closure while the state seeks to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Villanueva ordered a shutdown of gun shops last week, saying panic-buying that produced long lines at the shops was worrisome from a public safety standpoint. Days later, he issued a second order closing them to the public, despite a county legal counsel's finding that the stores are essential businesses that should remain open. However, Villanueva's second order said the stores may still supply security guard companies, and anyone who already has purchased a gun and possesses a valid safety certificate can pick up their firearms. On Friday, four groups, including the National Rifle Association of America, filed a federal lawsuit, contending that the sheriff's actions violate the constitutionally guaranteed right to bear arms.

(More gun stores stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X