BELLEFONTE, Pa — The COVID-19 outbreak is affecting most local shops around the statebut one in Centre County gun store is keeping its doors wide open.
Thomas Engle, owner of Hunters Warehouse in Bellefonte, says his business has been extremely busy since the coronavirus outbreak. He says people are scared and they are buying guns.
According to the list of all Pennsylvania businesses that Gov. Wolf ordered to close, Hunters Warehouse can remain open under the fishing, hunting, and trapping category.
“As long as we have permission, we will not violate the law. Right now, we are on the governor's list, and as far as anyone has told me, gun shops can stay open," Engle says. "I think the problem is, most of the shops are closing because they simply have no inventory.”
Hunters Warehouse says they it has a full inventory.
“We restock every single day. We have a tremendous warehouse backup that keeps us running. We're not close to running out of anything at the moment,” says Engle.
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, he says his store has implemented some new guidelines to keep the customers and workers safe. They are practicing social distancing, only allowing two people in the store at once, offering gloves, masks, and hand sanitizer to customers, and taking preorders from outside the store.
He says day after day, the customers have been pouring in.
“People are scared. People want to protect themselves. They want to have the capability to protect themselves. They’re buying guns," Engle says. "I’ve seen people who have never bought a gun in their life, 56-year-old customers, who have never believed in buying a gun. They’re buying guns.”
Hunters Warehouse will remain open until the government mandates it to shut down.
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