Unconscionable: New ATF Rules Pave the Way for Drive-Up Gun Sales

April 13, 2020

There are 100 gun shops that can do drive-through service for every 1 drive-through COVID testing site in America

WASHINGTON -- Guns Down America, a bolder, broader movement calling for dramatically fewer guns in America released the following statement after the ATF issued new guidelines allowing gun dealers to offer drive-through and curbside pick-up for firearms and ammunition.

“For every one drive-up Coronavirus testing station in America, there are approximately 100 federally-licensed gun dealers that can now offer drive-through pick-up,” said Igor Volsky, founder and executive director of Guns Down America. “At a time when domestic violence hotlines are experiencing a spike in calls and we’ve seen numerous media reports of Coronavirus-related murder-suicides, the Trump Administration's reckless decision to expand firearm access in the midst of a national health pandemic will lead to more gun deaths across the nation.

“Because the Trump Administration has failed to deliver on its promise of widespread drive up Coronavirus testing, it is dramatically easier to get a gun than a Coronavirus test in most states. This unconscionable new guidance allowing for drive-up gun purchases will line the pockets of the gun industry and its lobby, which have spent weeks urging the public to panic-buy guns.

“Contrary to the gun lobby’s mythology, individuals defend themselves with a gun in less than 1 percent of crimes in which there is contact between assailant and victim— and that comes at a high cost. Access to a gun triples the risk of death by suicide and doubles the risk of homicide.

Politfact reported last week that on drive-up Coronavirus testing, “Nearly a month later, Trump’s vision has yet to fully materialize.” According to GoodRx, there were 578 drive-up Coronaviru testing centers as of April 10, while there are some 57,000 gun shops operating in states that have not closed gun shops.

According to Giffords Law Center, Of the estimated 36,383 Americans killed with guns each year, 22,274 are gun suicides (61%), 12,830 are gun homicides (35%), 496 are law enforcement shootings (1.4%), and 487 are unintentional shootings (1.3%).

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