New Jersey Gym Owners Bust Down Doors of Their Businesses in Defiance of New Jersey Wuhan Virus Shutdown Orders

The owners of the Atilis Gym in Bellmawr, New Jersey broke through the plywood boards covering their gym’s door on August 1, 2020.

From there, they let dozens of clients enter and go on with their workout routines. This is part of an ongoing deadlock between business owners and government officials over New Jersey’s Wuhan virus-related lockdowns.

Owners Ian Smith and Frank Trumbetti immediately let 40 to 50 customers work out at the gym, which Smith claimed was less than 25 percent of the facilities’ capacity. Customers waited anxiously to get back to working out as the owners busted through the doors in defiance of the New Jersey state government’s dictates.

Smith recognized it was likely that law enforcement would come back to force them to shut down again, which has happened a number of times ever since Atilis reopened its doors in May. According to a letter that was sent to Smith, Bellmawr officials are considering the revocation of the gym’s business license.

“Gov. Murphy has weaponized the police force against us over and over,” Smith declared. “I think he looks foolish, the way he’s treating us — he’s pulling out all the stops. You have to ask, How far will one man go to destroy a small business?”

Atilis has become a symbol of the disillusionment among some residents and small-business owners over the state’s draconian Wuhan virus restrictions. It closed its doors in March alongside other gyms, restaurants, and a number of businesses that were ordered to wind down their operations in order to allegedly contain the virus’ spread.

In May, the owners opened the gym and received considerable support from Fox News. Fast forward to July, they were held in contempt of court after a Superior Court judge in Camden issued a ruling that ordered Atilis to comply with an executive order by Governor Phil Murphy that restricts indoor gym use to personal training sessions.

New Jersey is not exactly a state known for its freedom. Its draconian gun control laws have earned it a 49th place ranking according to Guns & Ammo’s Best States for Gun Owners’ rankings.

So, it’s no surprise why the New Jersey government is infringing on citizens’ rights to peacefully run their businesses. Some states are clearly are not friendly to freedom lovers. New Jersey is one of them.

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