TRAINER: BASIC HANDGUN

p.14 ||| calgunr.com

WORDS: JASON DAVIS

10 DAYS

TOO LATE

RECONSIDERING THE 10-DAY WAITING PERIOD IN THE MIDST OF A PANDEMIC

In times of state or national emergencies, California’s 10-day wait can mean the difference between life and death. Should it be suspended during national emergencies? You bet!

As it stands now, California, like the rest of the world, is facing the world-wide spread of the COVID-19 virus. Of concern is the fact that COVID-19 spreads exponentially. With exponential growth, the numbers start out small and remain small for a period of time. For example, the first 10 numbers in a sequence that doubles every period would be as follows: 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024. Exponential growth, however, is an infectious disease doctor’s nightmare, particularly as more time passes and the numbers increase. Using the same rate as before, by the time the sequence is at 100,000, the tenperiod sequence would be start at 100,000 but end at 51,200,000.

With COVID 19, the rate of growth is approximated as having an increase of 76% per day. Thus, a decision to purchase a firearm when the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases is 100,000 means that, all things held equal, by the time the purchaser can lawfully acquire their firearm there would be an estimated 50,192,559 confirmed COVID-19 cases – a significant increase in the risk of contacting the virus, which is especially concerning for those persons who are or who live older adults or persons of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions.

Moreover, as the number of confirmed cases increases, so to does that myriad of cities and counties that are imposing a patchwork of “Orders” that limit retail sales to “Essential Businesses,” each with differing definitions of “Essential Businesses” and differing

application and misapplication of the same by local law enforcement. While a firearm retailer may be open to take your order, they may be forced to suspend all operations during the ten-day period – leaving you as the owner unable to acquire and possess the firearm you now own.

This, of course, assumes that there is a desired firearm available to purchase!

Jason Davis is an attorney who has been involved in the Calfornia firearms industry for the past 33 years - both as a manufacturer and as industry counsel. His law firm, The Davis Law Firm, now associates with Michel & Associates P.C. where he focuses on firearm laws and technology.