Opinion
BELLEVUE, WA – -(AmmoLand.com)- The Second Amendment Foundation declared victory today when New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy backed away from his earlier position on gun shop operations in the state during the current COVID-19 panic, and will now allow operations by appointment.
The Second Amendment Foundation sued Murphy and acting State Police Supt. Col. Patrick Callahan in U.S. District Court last week, seeking a preliminary injunction and temporary restraining order.
They were ultimately joined by the New Jersey Second Amendment Society, Legacy Indoor Range and Armory LLC and the Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC), Racing Rails LLC d/b/a Legend Firearms and several private citizens. Plaintiffs were represented by noted civil rights attorney David Jensen of New York and Adam Kraut of California.
“We’re delighted that Gov. Murphy has reversed course on this matter, even if it took a lawsuit to get him to do it,” said SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb. “Our lawsuit cut right to the heart of what the Second Amendment is all about, which is personal protection during emergency situations like the ongoing coronavirus pandemic that has gripped the nation.”
Murphy found himself in the uncomfortable, and untenable, position of having to defend his armed protection detail while having closed down Garden State gun shops, making it impossible for average citizens to by even ammunition, much less a firearm.
“While we pursue litigation elsewhere,” Gottlieb said, “we’re happy that the situation in New Jersey has changed. Regardless of what some politicians might think, the Second Amendment is not subject to emergency orders, same as the First, Fourth, Fifth or other constitutional protections.
“This is one more example of SAF’s ongoing mission to win back firearms freedom, one lawsuit at a time,” he concluded.
The Second Amendment Foundation (www.saf.org) is the nation’s oldest and largest tax-exempt education, research, publishing and legal action group focusing on the Constitutional right and heritage to privately own and possess firearms. Founded in 1974, The Foundation has grown to more than 650,000 members and supporters and conducts many programs designed to better inform the public about the consequences of gun control.
The title of this article is BS. Murphy didn’t allow squat! He was forced to reopen gun shops because he was in violation of federal law. get the fact straight and don’t give that total asshole any credit for anything. Murphy and all the demorats in NJ hate guns and gun owners. So wake up NJ gun owners and get out and vote the bastards out of office. Unless that happens these fools running NJ government will continue to trample your 2a rights. Vote or face the consequences.
This guy broke FEDERAL LAW and he is not charged or jailed, why? If you or I had done anything close to the same, it would be a fair bet we would be jailed and rightly so. When is the two tiered justice system going to end? The ONLY reason he let gun shops open was under pressure from Trump not from us.
Arm up, carry on.
Appointment My Ass…Maintain Social Distancing…Who’s Next???
New Jersey needs to use the Coronavirus Pandemic to wake up and realize that it’s not just Governor Murphy and his political conies, BUT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY FOR WHICH THEY REPRESENT! If Democrats are fine with having their Constitutional rights usurped by tyrants who would Lord over them, then I would tell you that you haven’t seen anything to just vote “Democratic” in the 2020 election so that these power hungry demigods can finish what they started. And then while they bitch amongst themselves about what happened to all those flowery promises, okay lies that they made during the campaign… Read more »
Heres the problem, Id have rather seen this go to court so these scumbag leftists wouldnt be able to do this again.
This scuzzball needs slapped harder! He’s worth millions and a good chunk of that money needs ripped from his pocket and used to battle other tyrants! He also should not be close to the lever of any sort of power. Congratulations for this victory jersey but you got a long way to go before you can be recognized as a part of the real America instead of the parasite dictatorship you are!