Cindy went to buy something on her way home after making deliveries to Saddleback Church and Salvation Army and walked by this line at the local gun shop.  She asked one fellow what they were doing—they were standing in line intending to buy guns and ammo.  He added, “yes, all the gun stores have lines like this.”

So now we have lines at Costco and Walmart and the local gun shop.  Will we have shortages on guns and ammo too during the caronavirus fiasco?

On Thursday, March 19, California Governor Newsom signed an executive order instructing all California residents to remain home unless out for essential purposes, such as grocery shopping, picking up prescriptions, receiving health care, or traveling to work that is deemed essential.  There are 16 critical Infrastructure Workforces considered so vital to the United States that their incapacitation or destruction would have a debilitating effect on security, national economic security, national public health or safety.  In other words: Essential. (*see list below).  He added people may still leave their homes for walks and exercise and for essential needs such as food and medical care. Restaurant meals can still be delivered to homes.

Most every other store is shut down-apparently thrift stores and gun shops aren’t affected by our governor’s statewide “shelter in place” order.  Deemed essential?  Maybe thrift stores are essential so those out of work can buy needed items at cheaper prices. It is the guy on the edge of society who will suffer most during this crisis.

Oh, an article in the Los Angeles Times today provides the answer for all the guns.  In Los Angeles the Sheriff’s Department is releasing (jail) inmates close to the end of their sentences. Also the ACLU has asked local law enforcement to temporarily stop arresting people for minor offenses and to release those in jail on low-level nonviolent offenses.  

We need to protect ourselves from the bad guys who will be out on the streets in our neighborhood. So we need guns (and ammo).

*Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforces: Chemical, Commercial Facilities, Communications, Critical Manufacturing, Dams, Defense Industrial Base, Emergency Services, Energy, Financial Services, Food and Agriculture, Government Facilities, Healthcare and Public Health, Information Technology, Nuclear Reactors, Materials and Waste, Transportation and Water and Wastewater Systems.

Includes just about every worker except at tattoo parlors and brothels.  He (the governor) did say to practice “social distancing.”