Of course, for gun control advocates, there’s never a good time for you to purchase a firearm, but Igor Volsky of “Guns Down” and Dr. Joseph V. Sakran of Johns Hopkins are out with a new op-ed telling Americans that, while they’re rushing out to horde toilet paper and hand sanitizer, they should be staying far away from the country’s gun stores.

In their piece, the pair claim that pro-Second Amendment voice and organizations like the NRA are “exploiting” the coronavirus panic to “help grow profits further.”

Last Friday, the National Rifle Association sent out an inflammatory “national alert” to its millions of members warning that “anti-gun extremists” in Champaign, Illinois, are using the emergency “to quietly pass and implement gun control schemes.”

Later that day, the city, which had issued an emergency declaration related to the coronavirus, issued a statement to respond to “false claims” about its order, pointing out that “there is currently no firearm ban and no intent to seize property or close businesses.” A lawyer for the city said that using these powers would require city council approval.

And independent gun sellers on ArmsList.com have begun selling a variety of guns with sales pitches like “Corona Virus preparedness kit,” “Coronavirus panic killer!,” “Coronavirus Zombie Protection.“

The gun and ammunition rush could lead to a spike in firearm suicides and domestic violence incidents, however…

And, so, if the best way to stop the coronavirus pandemic is to listen to the guidance of health professionals and scientists, then Americans must also tune out the grifters who are using this crisis to sell more firearms and embrace the overwhelming and conclusive science around the dangers of gun ownership.

If you’re looking to protect your family, continue to buy food and basic essentials as needed, not guns and ammunition — and then stay home.

Pennsylvania state police background check system to purchase a firearm had 3000 more checks this past Tuesday than the same day a year ago for a total of 4342 causing the system to temporarily crash https://t.co/jFsrTYZS5l

— Rob O’Donnell (@odonnell_r) March 19, 2020