Gov. Phil Murphy isn’t wavering on his decision to label gun shops as a non-essential business amid the coronavirus outbreak in New Jersey, riling Second Amendment advocates and some Republicans.

“A safer society for my taste has fewer guns and not more guns,” Murphy said Wednesday at his daily coronavirus press briefing. “The guns that do exist are at the hands of the right people, particularly trained members of law enforcement.

“Crime has been down and let’s hope it stays down, but we’re very comfortable where we landed on that,” he continued, referring to his decision not to classify gun stores as essential businesses.

To ensure social distancing and slow the spread of the coronavirus outbreak in New Jersey, Murphy signed executive order no. 107, which closed many businesses in the state deemed “non-essential.” That includes, but is not limited to, hair salons, spas and gyms. Essential businesses include grocery stores, liquor stores and restaurants that offer takeout, among others.

Gun shop owners, who were experiencing a spike in sales prior to Murphy’s executive order, believe they are considered essential because they supply weapons and ammunition to current and retired law enforcement.

The New Jersey Second Amendment Society has filed a federal lawsuit against the Murphy administration to reopen gun stores, calling Murphy’s decision an infringement on a resident’s Second Amendment rights. And the head of that group, Alexander Roubian, has condemned the governor’s decision during two press briefings this week.

“I respect the Second Amendment,” Murphy told Roubian on Wednesday. “I have gotten not one complaint from anybody that they were trying to buy a gun and they couldn’t.”

Prior to Wednesday’s press briefing, three Monmouth County Republican state legislators — Sen. Declan O’Scanlon, Assemblywoman Serena DiMaso and Assemblyman Gerry Scharfernberger — issued a press statement calling on Murphy to reverse his decision, further politicizing the issue.

“These are trying times and if a lawful citizen seeks to invoke their Second Amendment right, they should have the ability to do so,” the statement said. “In instances of national security, people buy gold and buy guns. If a citizen wants to do so, as long as they are practicing social distancing and proper hand-washing, that shouldn’t be an issue.”

At a press briefing on Monday, state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said classifying firearm dealers as non-essential is "consistent with federal guidelines, and we’ll defend the governor’s executive order in court.”

Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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