Within just the first six months of 2020, approximately 19 million firearms have been sold. These are unprecedented numbers, and are a reflection of the concern that American citizens have for their safety and well-being. Amid the uncertainty brought about by the pandemic, further destabilization has been introduced in the form of riots, looting and other forms of lawless behavior around the country. As if it wasn’t enough that normal life as we know it has been turned upside down by health concerns related to COVID-19, we must now also look over our shoulders to ensure we do not become victims of violent criminals who have taken to disrupting peace and security with seeming impunity.

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With the trials and tribulations of COVID-19 and the recent social unrest that has gripped the country over the last few months, is there any way that business as usual can once again return? What will be our new normal? When will we be able to head out to a ball game with our friends and families? Will the smile and firm handshake at a business meeting once again seal the deal? Can we count on being able to celebrate our faith in houses of worship without having to follow social distancing circles and arrows on the floor? How will our children learn and experience our nation’s history when parts of that history have been torn down, providing they even return to classes in the fall?

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If you had to own just ONE firearm, what would it be? Many people who know their firearms would likely say that it should be a shotgun. A shotgun is a firearm typically designed to be fired from the shoulder, which uses a fixed shell to fire a number of small spherical pellets called shot, or a solid projectile called a slug. Shotguns come in a wide variety of sizes, ranging from a .22 inch bore up to a 2.0 inch bore, also identified by “gauge”, such as 20 gauge, 12 gauge, 10 gauge and so forth. Shotguns utilize a range of firearm operating mechanisms, including breech loading, single or double-barreled, pump-action, bolt, lever-action, semi-automatic, and even fully automatic variants.

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In May of this year, firearm sales surged nationwide, with an estimated 1.7 million guns sold in just one month, an increase of 80% as compared to May of last year! And being only a week into June, gun sales continue to increase with even greater velocity.

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Uncertainty has truly become the new normal. When the COVID crisis took hold in the US, the first order of business was to stop the spread. Various mitigation efforts ensued, and terms such as ‘social distancing’ became household words. The shutdown of non-essential businesses and public venues followed, and altered policies for those that remained running in some capacity were implemented.

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Hoarding is a concept that ordinarily draws little attention outside of some reality show on TV, but during uncertain times such as those we find ourselves in now, it has become a widespread issue of some concern. It all began with the disappearance of toilet paper and various household cleaning products from store shelves. Entire aisles were devoid of certain commodities. Panic buying suddenly threw the normal supply and demand models to the wind, as retailers and customers found themselves struggling at both ends of the equation.

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Prepping is a concept that has grown popular in recent years, even making it to mainstream television with shows like “Doomsday Preppers”, “Survivorman” and others. These illustrate the various preparations people undertake for a myriad of potentially cataclysmic scenarios, ranging from economic collapse to natural disasters to pandemics or terrorist events. While some of these narratives might seem unduly apocalyptic, such as alien invasions or asteroid impacts, recent world events have placed a far more sobering light on such endeavors.

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Thursday, March 19th marks the official start of spring in 2020. Typically this correlates with the vernal equinox, which is the moment the Sun crosses the celestial equator. While this may be what meteorologists and calendars tell you, whether or not it will actually feel like spring in Minnesota on this date is yet to be seen. But one thing is certain – winter is on its way out.

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With SHOT Show 2020 just around the corner, there are many exciting new firearms to look forward to. This is the nation’s largest event in the shooting, hunting and outdoor industry, and is expected to showcase the finest new products from virtually every manufacturer on the market.

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The gift-giving traditions of the Christmas season can be trying at times. If you have many people to shop for, each with multiple ideas of their holiday wish lists, it can quickly become a full blown shopping adventure. Are you up to the challenge of braving black Friday crowds at the mall or other retail venues? Do you want to endure the long lines, parking hassles, or coming up empty because the item you wanted just sold out? Even with online retail being a part of how we shop these days, it still comes with its own set of issues. Will the gift you ordered arrive in time? Will it make it through the delivery process without damage?

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