COVID-19 pandemic is not a reason to buy a gun (Ops response)

(courtesy/Christian Aguilar-Garcia)

I've never been able to comprehend the logic behind the decision to purchase or own a gun. As a first generation Mexican-American college student, I've always trusted in the ability of our local law officials and government figures to make decisions on behalf of the majority of us law-abiding citizens. My family were visitors in foreign lands, how could we possibly look for trouble when trouble was what my parents and others' were leaving behind.

I've never encountered a situation in my life that would have been made better or safer by having access to a gun and for that I'm fortunate. I'm aware of the perils that some people face in their communities but from my own personal experience, guns cause more damage than they solve. Be it through gang warfare, questionable handling or through some disgruntled youth with an axe to grind. When these types of things happen, people tend to lose faith in the virtues of guns and the implied freedom and safety they insinuate.

So, as COVID-19 maintains it's grasp on society and the general public grows increasingly uneasy; a startling trend has arisen. The American public is buying guns during the coronavirus pandemic, a whole lot of guns.

"While it is understandably difficult for state and local officials to sort out which types of businesses are “essential” and which are not, the coronavirus pandemic does not justify government-ordered shutdowns of gun stores. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s statewide lockdown order instructing “non-essential” businesses to remain closed in an effort to limit the spread of the coronavirus was certainly imposed with good intentions.

But as critical as it is to prevent the spread of coronavirus, it is also still important to respect the constitutional rights of Americans," says the OC Register's The Editorial Board. "Whatever one feels or thinks about gun policy, gun control or just guns themselves, the reality is that the Second Amendment exists to protect the rights of Americans to keep and bear arms. 

Since the closure of lawful gun stores and related businesses under a view that they are not “essential” makes it impossible for someone who doesn’t already lawfully own a gun to lawfully acquire one, such an interpretation intrudes upon the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Californians."

To be frank, I'm puzzled. How does one protect themselves from an invisible threat? As Americans continue to stockpile essential items such as toilet paper or hand sanitizer, somewhere along the line the decision was made to stockpile guns and ammunition. As if a gun could deter COVID-19. Asking people to wear a face-mask in public is an infringement of personal rights, but carrying a gun is completely logical.

The argument stands as such: if the government oversteps the boundaries in terms of enacting social-distancing policies and shelter-at-home guidelines, then the average American citizen should stand tall and exercise their Second Amendment right against two 'imminent' threats; a totalitarian government and a highly contagious virus.

The logic is puzzling, but don't tell the protesters that. Behind a veil of deep state conspiracies and murmurs of 'QAnon' the reaction to guidelines issued by the CDC and enforced by local and state governments is more than reasonable. Demand the right to a haircut and distrust the people we've elected into power.

In all honesty, keep your guns. Keep protesting and demanding access to golf courses and beaches. Everyone else, stay home, stay safe and we'll make it to the other side just fine.