This has been an unprecedented few weeks, really. Especially over the last 3 to 4 days, gun shops across the Country are being flooded with foot traffic, online traffic, and phone calls from people who are new to the game.
They want guns and ammo, and they want them now.
This panic, caused by the Coronavirus, is increasing as the hours go by. People want a way to take care of themselves without having to rely on someone else, and it’s putting a large strain on the industry as far as demand goes.
There are some things that new gun owners should know, that are important parts of their new journey. While this is not an inclusive list, these are a few top things that I’ll recommend;
1. Don’t Buy Something You Can’t Handle
For first-time buyers, that beautiful 45ACP 1911 looks really appealing. I know, because I’ve been there. Going from zero to 60 in a second isn’t a good idea, and by that I mean choosing a higher caliber as your first gun.
For newbies, a 380 or 9mm would be the way to go, or even a .22 can be a good option. At the moment, though, the drive in sales is related to panic, so people are looking for self-defense firearms, and a .22 doesn’t fit the bill.
Be careful what you choose, and don’t choose more than you need. A 9mm goes a long way, especially with today’s modern ammunition.
2. Train, Utilize Online Resources, Reach Out To Gun Owner Friends
Training may be hard during these quarantine days, but it’s essential to safe firearm ownership. For starters, take a look and memorize The 4 Rules Of Firearm Safety.
There is also a treasure trove of online resources when it comes to firearms, safe handling and training. To get you started, check out these resources:
Beginner Guides – This is our ‘Beginner’ category, and discusses a long list of items in this category.
YouTube – A great resource, but be careful of the information you find.
Since a lot of people are purchasing AR-15s, you can start here:
For new gun owners, regardless of what you’re buying, take a look at Part 1 of what is sure to be a great series from John over at Active Self Protection:
For those in permitless carry states, where you are allowed to carry a concealed firearm without a permit, be sure to get plenty of live-fire training with that new gun of yours before you carry it. You want to make sure that you’re proficient, and you want to be sure that your ammo works properly with that particular firearm.
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Map – If you do carry and are traveling over state lines, use this reciprocity map to make sure you aren’t breaking any laws by illegally carrying. It’s important, and this map provides great information that is updated regularly.
Lastly, reach out to any gun owner friends, as most are more than willing to lend a helping hand. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, as we were all newbies to the scene at one point in time. This can be a valuable resource, so choose your friends that you get this advice from wisely.
3. Be Patient!
With this, I’m talking about having patience with gun and ammo shortages, and the inability for many to venture out to a range in order to practice and train. It’s going to take some time for things to get back to normal, so please understand that these shortages are only temporary.
As for waiting periods, don’t be surprised if one pops up when you go to make a firearm purchase. It’s part of the process sometimes, and there is absolutely nothing that we can do about it at the moment. If you are stuck in a waiting period, just be happy that you found a gun to wait for!
The video below was posted by a man who works at a gun shop, and the video is to the point and NSFW.
This is one of the best videos I’ve seen. This gun store is in California. pic.twitter.com/8Uz21C6CGd
— Phillip The Assyrian 🤷🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️ (@Philcovfefe) March 22, 2020
4. Understand What An Irresponsible Gun Owner Looks Like
They’re out there, and I don’t want you to ever be one. Since the beginning of Concealed Nation, we’ve had a category titled ‘Irresponsible Gun Owner’. They are the stories that we hate covering, but we need to show them so that others don’t make the same mistakes.
You can view that category and those stories here.
5. Welcome To The Club!
Gun owners are some of the best people I know, and it’s a community that supports one another through thick and thin. With hoards of people becoming new gun owners, literally overnight, we welcome you with open arms. Don’t be afraid to say hello!
