Guns and the Coronavirus

Source: https://internewscast.com/nervous-americans-start-panic-buying-guns-amid-coronavirus-panic/

Introduction:

The United States and much of the world has been afflicted with a new disease originating from Wuhan, China. COVID-19, commonly referred to as the Coronavirus, is a new virus from a similar family as SARS. It has proven to be fairly severe to some groups of people, and it is extremely contagious. With this virus has come a wave of fear and urgency in the US. In many areas, police are reducing their presence in order to avoid getting sick. This has lead many Americans to look into ways of ensuring their own personal security. For many, this means buying their first gun.

Details:

Panic-buying of firearms is nothing new. There are typically spikes in gun purchases leading up to an election, simply due to the uncertainty of gun rights under a new president. The Coronavirus panic-buying feels different though. The buying seems much less political and much more for personal protection. I have seen more than a few people on social media, some of whom not typically gun-friendly, go out and purchase their first pistol or rifle. 

The Glock 19, a popular first pistol.
Source: http://gunivore.com/pistol/glock-19-gen-4-review-2016/

As a community, I have seen long-time gun owners be very receptive to new owners, encouraging them to get some proper training in basic handling and marksmanship. This is an interesting part about the firearms community, it is not inherently political. People on both the left and the right can appreciate the value of being well armed and well trained. Unfortunately, because of how the two primary political parties in the US present themselves, firearm ownership at its most basic level often becomes a partisan issue.

Because of the panic and focus on the Coronavirus pandemic, some politicians have decided to seize on the opportunity to introduce controversial legislation without many people noticing. One such bill is H. R. 5717, which I encourage anybody reading this to oppose. The bill would all but ban the ownership of semi-automatic rifles in the United States and bad standard capacity magazines. There is a whole sleuth of additional actions it would take, but needless to say, it would severely damage the 2nd Amendment as we have it today. I personally find it reprehensible that a policy maker would think to introduce a bill that requires so much attention while we are in the midst of a pandemic crisis.

Traditionally, US citizens have flocked to the Republican party for support for 2nd Amendment rights. This is increasingly becoming less and less of the case. President Donald Trump, who many on the left and center-left consider to be a far-right president, has voiced support for "Red-flag" laws, meaning, the seizure of firearms without due process. He also dropped the ball on pushing for the deregulation of suppressors when there was a Republican majority in all three branches of government. This just shows that there is no political safe haven for the 2nd Amendment, and that the responsibility for asserting the right must come from everyday citizens. 

Conclusion:

I do not consider myself an extremely political person. I subscribe to the radical ideology of wanting to be left alone. But I feel like it is necessary to be politically active on particular issues that you may find important. For me, that is gun rights. Just because the Coronavirus has people scared does not mean that people can let the government get away with a blatant power grab. 

I encourage everyone to be vigilant and passionate on the issues that mean something to you, whether that is guns or some other issue. No matter what, we are a nation founded on the principle that the government exists to serve the people, not the other way around. I very much believe that we should strive to keep it that way.