In reversal, gun stores now considered essential, will stay open in Wake County

With a statewide order to stay at home set to go into effect Monday at 5 p.m., North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper defined some "essential" businesses that would be allowed to continue to operate. Those include grocers, pharmacies, banks and some retailers, including gun shops. But Cooper also allowed for local closures that were more restrictive. In Wake County, that means gun shops must close.

Posted 8:15 p.m. Mar 31, 2020 — Updated 11:26 p.m. Mar 31, 2020

Amand Lamb

, WRAL reporter

FUQUAY-VARINA, N.C. — When North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper issued the order for residents to stay at home, he exempted some "essential" businesses that would be allowed to continue to operate. Those include grocers, pharmacies, banks and some retailers, including gun shops.

But Cooper also allowed for local closures that were more restrictive. Wake County originally deemed gun stores non-essential, but reversed that decision on Monday after the federal government updated its list to put them in the essential column.

Clay Ausley, owner of Fuquay Gun and Gold, says the confusion never slowed his booming business.

"As long as we're considered an essential business, we're going to be here to make sure our customers can get everything they need to keep themselves secure and armed in their homes," Ausley said.

Gun sales surge as pandemic-fueled fear spreads

Nationwide, gun sales have gone through the roof since the pandemic began.

"Gun sales in the past 16 days have been up 500% to 800% daily," Ausley said. "It's been some of the busiest traffic we've seen in 18 years."

The United States Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency deemed gun stores to be part of the "essential critical infrastructure workforce" in a list released Saturday. It was an advisory, not a mandate, but many local and state governments like Wake County are now incorporating this into their own guidelines, allowing stores like Gun and Gold to stay open.

"We're considered an essential business now because firearms, many consider it to be the way you keep your home safe," Ausley said.

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