Massachusetts gun shops must be allowed to reopen amid coronavirus pandemic, federal judge rules
Massachusetts must allow gun shops to reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic after the businesses were previously designated as non-essential by Gov. Charlie Baker, a federal judge ruled this week.
U.S. District Judge Douglas Woodlock ruled on Thursday that that the restrictions Baker ordered in response to the public health crisis posed an improper burden to the constitutional rights of individuals seeking to purchase firearms, Reuters reported.
The state will now have to allow licensed firearms dealers to sell guns, ammunition and other goods by appointment only, with no more than four appointments per hour. Dealers can only operate from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily starting Saturday.
Under Woodlocks order, gun dealers must follow proper social distancing and public health requirements, including having employees wear proper face coverings and establishing procedures to sanitize frequent touch points throughout the day.
Read more: https://www.masslive.com/coronavirus/2020/05/massachusetts-gun-shops-must-be-allowed-to-reopen-amid-coronavirus-pandemic-federal-judge-rules.html