Mystic Suspending Shipments

When did they become "essential"?

https://www.courant.com/coronavirus...q-story.html

You mean hardware stores? They supply and support other essential businesses.

You mean gun stores? Simple. It's because state exercise of the police power reserved to states under the Tenth Amendment cannot suspend or unreasonably infringe the federal Constitutional rights of citizens. The exemption of gun stores is a political choice of the Governor to avoid the inevitable Constitutional litigation that would occur if they were explicitly named. That litigation may be coming in Los Angeles County. Gavin Newsom didn't order gun store closures, leaving the decision to county sheriffs, but the LA County sheriff has said he will close them. Or in Chicago, where today's statement by the mayor that no one can go jogging alone is almost certain to be viewed as effectively suspending the fundamental right to liberty.

There could be more granular options for business restrictions but most would be too complicated to achieve the desired effects given that humans behave like humans. Many think they need to be the exception.

The idea that a gun store is "essential" in a health crisis is a ludicrous one. I notice they were not on New York's list of essential locations, and I haven't heard a single word about it. In fact this is the first time I have heard about it at all. Since simply closing any business is technically against the first amendment, I don't see how any business can use another amendment to claim they should be open. Either the government has the right to shut businesses down or they don't, regardless of what that business is. If they can, then they can decide what is "essential".

Mystic employs 150 people. How long were they supposed to turn the switch off and survive. I doubt that all employees will return right away but there are ways to work safely together in order to save a company and thus jobs.

Lots of businesses employ large numbers. Apparently they feel they are somehow special and don't have to follow the rules. It's not their place to decide that under the circumstances. It will be interesting to see what happens, since the state can certainly shut them down again.

Yes, rules can indeed be followed right off of a cliff.

In the case of gun stores (not declaring a side). if they did shut down gun stores then would Walmart cease gun sales?

The increase in gun sales says something about gun buyers concerns/fears during this period. However, I think the general scam is just the usual make people afraid of something and then profit from it. Welcome to marketing.

This message brought to you by your local toilet paper supplier. There is always a more cynical side to everything.

I had a chance once to invest in a company that retailed only toilet paper and firearms in an upscale boutique setting but alas I passed.

In the case of toilet paper, marketing was not required. It's always one of the items most in demand in a crisis. And I suppose that all those added guns will be used to shoot the virus when it knocks on the door.

Mystic is an interesting example of whether a one-size-fits-all approach makes sense. They have a 50,000 SF facility with most of their 150 employees working on a large open floor. Does it make sense for 30 workers to report and distance themselves 50 feet apart and observing the recommended hygiene protocols in order to keep revenue flowing and perhaps save the company? Everybody is still going to grocery stores. Government agencies are still open in large part. People are using ATMs and self-pumping gas (those buttons have always been nasty) Most of those employees are likely home in "self-quarantine" with other individuals and it is a safe bet that they are not staying 6 feet away from each other and not sharing touch surfaces after one or more went out shopping for necessary staples and returning home. The blanket approach was prudent at first because you want to establish baseline behavior. Now you need to start modifying that approach based upon what has been learned. Albany is not Queens just as Florida MA is not Boston and so on.

The testing has been and will be key.

Rev - Rather have a gun in my hand than a roll of toilet paper if somebody meant my family harm but you can choose your weapon. Just be sure to use a high-capacity roll!

Edit: I believe that people are not purchasing firearms to shoot a virus but rather they are thinking in terms of virus related societal breakdown and first responders ranks being thinned because of said virus. And of course many people live in areas where first responder response time can be lengthy in normal times.

If you do intend to shoot a virus I recommend jacketed hollow points if using a pistol and boat tail rounds for a rifle along with a 10,000X scope with infrared.

Perhaps if some here lived in New York you might think a bit differently about it.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/03/heal...e/index.html

Actually, crime rates have gone down during this crisis. I do not expect a "societal breakdown" from this. I live in one of the most concentrated population areas in the world, and have seen NO sign of any "breakdowns". I have seen a lot of people helping each other though.

Crime rates have fallen in the UK. However, the expectation is that there may be a rise in certain types of crime - from domestic violence to fraudsters preying on vulnerable households. Of course, we manage to live without Kalashnikovs by the front door ...