Are Gun Stores ‘Essential’ Businesses?

Yes, especially when jails and prisons are releasing inmates early.

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A customer looks over a hand gun at a gun shop in Phoenix, Ariz., in 2012.

Ralph D. Freso/Reuters

Law-abiding citizens want the right to buy a gun, especially in the midst of a pandemic. Police have stopped responding to many 911 calls, and massive numbers of inmates are being released early from prison. If shortages become more severe or if lots of police fall ill, chaos may very will ensue. People would rather be safe than sorry.

If the police can’t be there to provide protection, people are far safer if they have a gun when confronted by a criminal. That is particularly true for the most vulnerable citizens, such as women and the elderly.

JL

About the Author

John R. Lott Jr.

John R. Lott Jr. is the president of the Crime Prevention Research Center. He served as the senior adviser for research and statistics in the Office of Justice Programs and the Office of Legal Policy in the U.S. Department of Justice during 2020–21.

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