Grocery stores, pharmacies, car mechanics — even the media. Those are businesses being deemed essential by the state to remain open. The National Rifle Association wants to force officials to add one more: Gun stores.

The NRA is suing New York to re-open gun stores as schools and most businesses remain shuttered during the coronavirus pandemic.

Tom King of the New York Rifle and Pistol Association says it’s more important than ever that people feel secure as first responders handle the crisis.

"Many, many, many people believe they’re being left to their own devices to protect themselves in the cities and outside of the cities," King said.

The Trump administration has said gun stores are essential businesses, but those were not included in Governor Andrew Cuomo’s order. 

"It’s just being ignored in New York and a couple of other states, so that’s essentially why we’re going after it," King said. 

On Saturday, Cuomo indicated he was unconcerned by the NRA’s legal challenge to his order.

"You become sort of lawsuit immune," Cuomo said. "I wish you become immune to this virus the way I’ve become immune to this lawsuit."

Cuomo has tangled with the NRA in the past amid opposition to his aggressive stance on gun control.

"Shrugging it off, I think that was a kind of blasé way of handling a situation he’s not sure of," King said.

On Monday, Cuomo extended the order to keep schools and non-essential businesses closed until at least April 29.

Attorney General Letitia James in a statement pledged to "aggressively defend" the governor's order.

"Everyone — including the NRA — must follow the law and all executive orders of New York," she said.