National Review reached out to business owners who defied government shutdown orders last winter, or who fought back in other ways. Several of their businesses are now closed.
In all of the cases, the business owners said they initially abided by the government restrictions imposed early on in the pandemic. It was only later, often when their businesses were about to go under, that they rebelled. Most said they believed the shutdown orders were unlawful. None of them said they regretted their decision to fight.
“Small business is the heart, it’s what represents America,” said Lepejian. “When you start killing small business, on purpose, that’s really a very alarming thing. That’s something to fight for.”
. . .
When McAlarney and Presti defied government orders, Mac’s was “on the verge of bankruptcy,” Fonte said. He noted that when New York governor Andrew Cuomo was lecturing small business owners about being selfish for not following lockdown orders, he was inking a $4 million book deal.
Fonte argues that no government actor – the governor, a mayor, the legislature – has the power to shutter businesses without first passing a law that could be challenged in court.
Nobody, he said, was forced to go to Mac’s. And he noted that while many small businesses were effectively shuttered, corporate giants – Walmart, Costco, Target – remained open and turned handsome profits.
“But if you’re a mom-and-pop store or a small restaurant,” he said, “then you basically have to bankrupt yourself and struggle to feed your family.”
Those Who Defied Lockdowns to Survive Now Face the Wrath of Government
Put not your faith in princes.