Coronavirus biggest-ever boom on guns sales!
We’ve all heard the phrase, “Send lawyers, guns and money.” But with the acceleration of the coronavirus, the new mantra is: “Just send guns.”
That’s right, people more than ever are exercising their 2nd Amendment constitutional right to keep and bear arms.
But even with that right, there are government officials who seeming perpetually try to strip them of those rights, this time using the coronavirus as an excuse to disarm homeowners of their guns, to make them sitting ducks and defenseless for intruders.
Joining us in this discussion is Tom Gresham, spokesman for the 2nd Amendment Foundation. Welcome Tom.
Q&A:
Q1: We’re getting reports from all over the country of people buying up all the guns and ammunition in gun stores. What’s going on here?
A: Three things are happening. First, just as with the toilet paper madness, when people think there is or will be a shortage, they rush to buy. Two — Police departments around the country have announced that they will not respond to calls which are not emergencies, and response times may increase, and gun confiscation is in the works. This lethal combination is LIKE ROLLING OUT THE WELCOME MAT TO HOME INVADORS! People are smart enough to understand that their safety is ultimately their own responsibility. and THREE — Mayors in a few cities are issuing orders to stop the sale and even the transportation of guns and ammunition. When the government says you can’t have something, people who never thought of buying it suddenly rush to get it.
Q2: Doesn’t it make sense to shut off the sale of guns and ammunition during a crisis?
A: Not at all. First, women and men should have the ability to protect themselves. We saw with Hurricane Katrinia that police protection can evaporate overnight, and the public is left to provide for their own safety. People understand that as good as the police are they will rarely arrive in time to protect anyone. And we haven’t even touched on the fact that owning a gun — which means buying a gun — is a fundamental right — just as strong as free speech — and it’s protected by the Bill of Rights.
Q3: But the Second Amendment isn’t absolute. It’s a right that grants gun ownership, but it’s a right that can be restricted, right? And tell us about your amazing victory in 2012 in your successful lawsuit against politicians in North Carolina where you prevailed in securing rights to keep guns even then a State of Emergency is issues.
A: First off, the Second Amendment doesn’t grant anything. It restricts government intrusion on that right, and because the Supreme Court has incorporated the Second Amendment, those restrictions apply to state and city governments, as well. I think we can expect swift court challenges to any executive order restricting citizens’ ability to buy and transport firearms. (and a brief discussion about the North Carolina lawsuit)
Q4: Why would someone need a gun in the middle of the corona virus emergency?
A: Chances are you won’t need a gun. Then again, chances are you won’t need your seat belt today when you drive your car. You have a personal protection firearm for the unexpected, no matter whether that’s during this current crisis or not. The data from multiple studies shows that Americans use guns in self defense several million times each year, almost always without having to fire a shot. Not only does a firearm in the hands of a responsible person provide physical safety, just having it makes people feel safer, and that’s a benfit we shouldn’t minimize.
Q5: Do you worry about people who have no background or training with firearms buying guns?
A: Owning a gun demands a serious level of responsibility. I’ve always encouraged new gun owners to get training at a local shooting range. That may not be possible with the restrictions we’re facing, but you can learn a lot about safe gun storage and handling online. We have almost three thousand gun safety videos on YouTube, if people just search for Gun Talk Media.
You know, people ask if it’s time to panic. The truth is, panicing doesn’t help anything, so it’s never time to panic. However, it’s always time to prepare. Right now we see people coming to the realization that they are responsible for their own security. This has always been the case, but for many people, it takes a crisis to break them out of their bubble and see the reality.
The good news is that when this has happened before, there has not been an increase in accidents or mistaken shootings, and I’m confident we won’t see that now, either.
ABOUT TOM GRESHAM:
Tom Gresham is a spokesman for 2nd Amendment Foundation. He hosts the nationally syndicated weekend radio talk show ‘Tom Gresham’s Gun Talk,’ carried on 266 stations. He also has created, hosted and directed several television series about guns including Shooting Sports America on ESPN, and Guns and Gear on NBC Sports. An author of several books, Tom has also written thousands of magazine articles about firearms.
ABOUT ALAN GOTTLIEB:
Alan is a strong advocate of defense. He’s a nuclear engineering graduate of the University of Tennessee, publisher of Gun Week, chairman of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, and Founder of the Second Amendment Foundation. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the American Conservative Union.
ABOUT MARK WALTERS:
Mark Walters is a national board member of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms and a broadcast media spokesman for the Second Amendment Foundation.
Mark is the recipient of the 2015 Gun Rights Defender of the Year Award, a weekly national columnist for Ammoland, and author of three books, Lessons from Armed America with Kathy Jackson: foreword by Massad Ayoob, Lessons from Unarmed America with Rob Pincus: foreword by Ted Nugent and Grilling While Armed.
Mark has appeared on national and international radio and television on gun-related stories and is a popular podium speaker on firearms topics as well.
Mark is a husband and father of two children and resides in Georgia with his family.
ABOUT DAVE WORKMAN…
Dave Workman is an award-winning career journalist and senior editor of TheGunMag.com (formerly Gun Week). He also writes for Liberty Park Press, Conservative Firing Line and several firearms periodicals. He is also communications director for the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms.
His has authored Op-Ed pieces in several major newspapers including the Chicago Tribune, Seattle Times and Atlanta Journal Constitution. He has also co-authored seven books with Alan Gottlieb, founder of the Second Amendment Foundation.
Workman’s beat is firearms, from politics to the outdoors. He is widely considered an authority on firearms, concealed carry and gun politics.
ABOUT THE 2ND AMENDMENT FOUNDATION:
The Second Amendment Foundation (www.saf.org) is the nation’s oldest and largest tax-exempt education, research, publishing and legal action group focusing on the Constitutional right and heritage to privately own and possess firearms. Founded in 1974, The Foundation has grown to more than 650,000 members and supporters and conducts many programs designed to better inform the public about the consequences of gun control.
