Culver City Observer -

Faced with hundreds of speaker cards supporting gun stores and read by the city clerk, the city council voted 5-0 to allow Martin B. Retting gun store to remain open.

Council ruled that firearm retailers are part of the essential critical infrastructure and are allowed to be open during the COVID-19 local emergency.

In a press release the city stated, “The policy is consistent with [Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency] CISA Guidance and the County of Los Angeles’ current positions regarding the inclusion of firearms retailers as part of the essential critical infrastructure.”

“Due to the need to maintain safe environment during this COVID-19 emergency, and in accordance with Culver City’s order, we will be significantly limiting the number of customers that we can accept at any given time. We are operating under an appointment only basis for the foreseeable future, which is basically as long as this emergency continues,” Martin B Retting Inc. wrote in a Facebook post. “Availability on most items, including ammo, is very limited and the supply chain is going to tied up for a while.”

Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva initially ordered all gun shops closed but reversed his order declaring the stores are essential business.

His reversal came after new guidelines from the Department of Homeland Security classifying firearm industry workers as essential critical infrastructure personnel.

“Based on this further input from the federal government, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department will not order or recommend the closure of businesses that sell or repair firearms or sell ammunition,” Villanueva said.