According to Firearm Chronicles
A lot of states closed gun stores, citing COVID-19 concerns. It was nothing of the sort, but that’s what most of them said. They simply used COVID-19 as a pretext to do something they wanted to do all along and couldn’t.
However, most of them also found out that they really couldn’t get away with it even with the virus going around. As a result, the vast majority backed off and reopened the stores. That includes vehement anti-gunners like Phil Murphy of New Jersey and Ned Lamont of Connecticut.
Now, the governor of Maine has joined their ranks.
Gun shops will be allowed to reopen in Maine after the administration of Gov. Janet Mills on Tuesday included them on an updated list of businesses that will be allowed to operate despite a new stay-at-home order aimed at fighting the coronavirus.
It came as the Democratic governor used her emergency powers to put Maine among a majority of states that have issued a stay-at-home order aimed at stopping the spread of the virus. Last week, she ordered the closure of public-facing businesses that were deemed nonessential.
That earlier order relied on guidance from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that outlines “the critical infrastructure workforce” — including first responders and health care, grocery, pharmacy and utility workers. All of those types of business have stayed open in Maine.
Gun shops were not on that federal list until Saturday, when the administration of President Donald Trump updated its list amid advocacy from gun-rights groups. The Maine Department of Economic and Community Development changed its list to include them on Tuesday.