Australia: Gun Shops Closed Because of Increase in Demand
In Australia, the various governments are using the coronavirus emergency to stop sales of firearms. One of the stated purposes of those who plotted to disarm Australians was to reduce the number of Australians who had guns. That was unsuccessful. More people have guns in Australia today than before the extreme gun laws were put in place in 1997. The thinking that one purpose of gun laws is to reduce the number of people with guns continues.
During the current emergency, on 31 March, the Daily Mail quoted the national police minister. From dailymail.co.uk:
Police Minister Lisa Neville said at a press conference on Tuesday the number of people attempting to access firearms and ammunition had doubled.
The minister and the National Cabinet decided to pause the sales of firearms and ammunition for sporting or recreational purposes.
They fear an increased amount of weapons on the street would be dangerous as tensions rise and firearms may be stockpiled or accessed by criminals.
There is no suggestion the people who desired firearms were not obeying the law and following the intensely bureaucratic and slow process by which a person is grudgingly allowed to own a firearm in Australia, under tightly controlled conditions. The government simply did not like the idea that more people were acquiring firearms.
The several different Australian states each approached the situation of the coronavirus a bit differently. In Queensland, gunshops and gunsmiths were labeled “non-essential”. From health.qld.gov.au:
PART 1 – DIRECTION – NON-ESSENTIAL BUSINESS, ACTIVITY, OR UNDERTAKING
These directions apply from the time of publication until the end of the declared public health emergency, unless they are revoked or replaced.
A person who owns, controls or operates a non-essential business, activity, or undertaking in the State of Queensland, including operating at a private residence, must not operate the business, activity or undertaking during the period specified in paragraph 5, subject to the exceptions set out in Column 2 of the Definitions table at paragraph 7.
(snip) In the list of non-essential businesses are gunsmiths and gunshops:
https://patriotrising.com/australia-gun-shops-closed-because-of-increase-in-demand/