The City of Champaign, Illinois has officially declared a state of emergency to confront the Coronavirus. While other cities and states have also declared emergencies, Champaign is taking a slightly different approach.

The Champaign City Council has just passed an ordinance giving the Mayor the power to use the Emergency Declaration to “order the discontinuance of selling, distributing, dispensing or giving away of … firearms or ammunition of any character whatsoever.”

Democrats in this city are now using this crisis to go after the 2nd Amendment, making it illegal to transfer firearms or ammunition from person to person within the city limits.

Most states have emergency powers laws that allow the government to suspend the 2nd Amendment in times of crisis. These powers were most infamously used in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Gun owners in New Orleans were forced, by armed officers, to surrender their firearms. This left citizens vulnerable to looting and violence at the hands of criminals.

Earlier this week, we covered how the State of Ohio was suspending the 1st Amendment's right to publicly assemble after the state confirmed its 4th positive Coronavirus patient.

The Founders went to great lengths to protect our rights for a reason. They feared a government that could use emergency powers to strip the citizens of their right to speech, self-defense, and even privacy.

The 2nd Amendment reads "shall not be infringed" for a reason and I hope that the politicians in Champaign are held personally responsible for anyone who is victimized after being blocked from purchasing a firearm or ammunition to protect themselves.