The DHS designated firearm shop employees essential, while Pennsylvania, New York and Massachusetts have challenged.

The Department of Homeland Security issued guidance recently designated firearm shop employees essential workers. Last week, a split Pennsylvania Supreme Court denied a petition by advocates to overturn the governor’s decision to not list firearm shops as “essential.” The Department of Homeland Security states that their list is “advisory in nature” and should not be considered as a federal standard or directive.” Furthermore, DHS states that “Individual jurisdictions should add or subtract essential workforce categories based on their own requirements and discretion.” It is unclear whether the federal guidance will influence state determinations of what constitute “essential” services; however, the Pennsylvania Governor did later update the state’s list of essential services to include gun shops. Other states, including New York and Massachusetts, continue to not include shops selling firearms or ammunition on their list of “essential” businesses or services.