COVID-19 has engendered new gun shop customers searching for a firearm for uncertain times. I’ve suggested to a couple of such acquaintances to first evaluate their circumstances. I live in St. Louis, an urban area hit fairly hard by COVID-19; hence, many here fear civil unrest from unemployment and shortages, increase in street crime, home invasions, etc. For urbanites not already owning a firearm, I usually suggest a handgun, shotgun, or both. The handgun can be kept close at home or away since Missouri is a constitutional carry state. If they lack experience with handguns I usually recommend a revolver. For home defense, the shotgun combines intimidation with devastating striking power. For handiness, I like Mossberg’s 20-gauge Shockwave’s lower recoil.
However, new shooters may still find the Shockwave hard to…