Gun Control: Philadelphia Invokes New Measures to Fight Coronavirus
Philly Police Department stops issuing concealed carry permits to law-abiding citizens
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Philadelphia is restricting gun use in the city as part of the latest effort to tackle the deadly coronavirus pandemic, according to reports.
The Philadelphia Police Department has now stopped issuing concealed carry permits to law-abiding citizens this week.
The PPD says it has shut down the unit that processes the permit to stop the spread of the Chinese virus.
Philadelphia police spokesperson Sekou Kinebrew revealed the department has stopped issuance in a statement.
Kinebrew indicated that there is no set day for when the permit processing will resume.
“Because this entire pandemic is inherently fluid, we can’t predict how long it will be closed,” Kinebrew said, The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
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In addition to halting concealed permit issuance, the Philadelphia Police Department is also relaxing some of their policies.
Officers will be “delaying arrest for … narcotics offenses, thefts, burglary, and prostitution.”
However, Kinebrew made it very clear that “officers would continue to arrest people carrying a firearm without a permit.”
The Truth About Guns notes that law enforcement officials in a handful of other areas in the state also ceased concealed permit issuance.
Meanwhile, across America, officials have been moving to invoke emergency gun control measures to tackle the COVID-19 outbreak.
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On Monday, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell (D) became the second Democrat mayor to sign an emergency order to be granted new powers to ban the sale and transportation of guns amid the coronavirus crisis.
Cantrell signed a proclamation further emphasizing her emergency powers to “suspend or limit the sale, dispensing, or transportation, of alcoholic beverages.”
According to the declaration signed by Mayor Cantrell, she now has the power to restrict the sale and transportation of guns and other items.
Cantrell is now “empowered, if necessary, to suspend or limit the sale of alcoholic beverages, firearms, explosives, and combustibles,” the order states.
As Neon Nettle previously reported, Cantrell's move came shortly after the Democrat mayor of Champaign, Illinois, issued a similar emergency order that gives her the power to halt ammunition and firearm sales in a bid to "combat" the coronavirus outbreak.
Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen (D) assigned herself new powers to ban the sale of guns and alcohol by declaring a citywide emergency to address the spread of COVID-19.
After signing the executive order, Feinen gained the power to ban the sale of guns, ammunition, alcohol, and gasoline, among other extreme measures.
Feinen could also cut off access to individuals' gas, water, or electricity.
