Guns and 32 Other Things You Definitely Do NOT Need To Buy During the Coronavirus Pandemic (partial barf alert)

Yahoo News ^ | July 20, 2020 | Gabrielle Olya

[DoodleBob]

Spurred by fears stemming from the coronavirus pandemic and racial justice protests, millions of Americans are buying guns — many of who are first-time gun owners, NPR reported. Phillip Levine, an economist and professor at Wellesley College, told NPR that he estimates that about 3 million more guns than usual have been sold since the pandemic started. And the National Shooting Sports Foundation, a gun industry trade group, said that 2020 is on track to be the biggest year ever for gun sales in the U.S.

But before you rush out to by a gun, consider if that’s a wise purchase — especially if you’re one of the millions of Americans who have lost their jobs or have seen their hours cut back amid the pandemic, and are now in a more dire financial situation than usual. Now is a time when it’s especially important to focus on saving more and spending less. Though you may be tempted to panic-buy supplies and stock up on other items to prevent or “treat” the coronavirus, there are many things that are simply not worth your money.

[DoodleBob]

This is a month old, but it's good to know what kind of fearmongering is out there.

This is the list if you don't want to read the attendant commentary (though I kept the Guns commentary:

N-95 Masks
Surgical Masks
Dehydrated Food
A Year's Supply of Toilet Paper
Alcohol Solutions That Contain Less Than 70% Alcohol
Hand Sanitizer That Doesn't Contain Alcohol
Food You Won't Actually Eat
Air Filters
Zinc
Other Vitamins
Gloves
Natural Disaster Emergency Supplies
Perishable Foods That Will Go Bad Before You Can Eat Them
Unhealthy Snacks
Foods With WIC on the Label
Chlorine Dioxide
Colloidal Silver
Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine
Bleach/Disinfectant as the Coronavirus 'Cure'
Essential Oils

Guns
Gun sales have skyrocketed, with the U.S. hitting a monthly record for sales in March due to fears related to the coronavirus pandemic, NPR reported. Although the government doesn’t track firearms sales, it does track background checks that are required to buy guns from licensed dealers, which can provide an estimate for overall sales. Background checks for gun purchases have increased 69% year over year, and background checks for handgun purchases, in particular, have risen 80% year over year.

However, there are a couple of reasons why buying a gun right now could be a bad idea, NPR reported. First, new gun owners might not be able to get hands-on safety training about how to properly store and use a gun due to pandemic-related closures in some states, which could lead to unintentional shootings and injuries. Secondly, with guns at home, there’s a higher chance that domestic confrontations could lead to serious injury or death.

“Specifically, in cases of domestic violence or when someone is suicidal — having that gun present could turn a situation deadly,” Emmy Betz, a researcher at the University of Colorado focusing on injury prevention, told NPR. “I’m skeptical that all of these new purchasers are getting the training that they need and getting the guidance around storage devices that they need.”

Professional-Grade Hair Dye
New Clothes
DIY Hand Sanitizer Ingredients
Special Household Cleaners
Phone Disinfecting Gadgets
Water Purifier
Stockpiles of Bottled Water
More Than 2 Months' Worth of Prescription Medication
Paper Towels
Produce Wash
Stockpiles of Pet Food
Anything You Don't Need

[AnotherUnixGeek]

At this point, I don’t need a gun. I need ammo.

[Rio]

I agree on guns and ammo. If you wait until the panic, you’re doing it wrong.

[Paladin2]

Am I Cra-Cra or is a lot of this Nucking Futz?

It is NPR, right?

[dp0622]

I’m a big B and Independent horror movie fan.

Who the hell knows why?

Anyway, 80 percent of them would be over in 15 minutes if the victims had guns.

[Scrambler Bob]

When you but a gun, get an optical sight.

For Corona Virus, mount a microscope on it.

Shoot those dang Virii.

Especially if they are hiding up some one’s nostrils.

If they are wearing a mask, you will need a shotgun.

[Red in Blue PA]

“Specifically, in cases of domestic violence or when someone is suicidal — having that gun present could turn a situation deadly,” Emmy Betz, a researcher at the University of Colorado focusing on injury prevention, told NPR. “I’m skeptical that all of these new purchasers are getting the training that they need and getting the guidance around storage devices that they need.”

If this is true, then why does no politician ever suggest a $5000 to buy an expensive gun safe?

[Red in Blue PA]

$5000 tax credit

[circlecity]

“Phillip Levine, an economist and professor at Wellesley College, told NPR that he estimates that about 3 million more guns than usual have been sold since the pandemic started.”

More like 3 million a month

[joma89]

See my tag line.

JoMa

[Regulator]

Russian Twinkie chick tells us don’t worry leetle peons, Big State will take care of you, rioters your friends

Right up to the day she walks out of her West Hollyweird apartment and gets nailed

Then it will be, “I wanna Glock!”

[usconservative]

This old fart gun owner picked up another HnK family member today along with 200 rounds of ammo. I need a LOT more ammo for this baby but rest assured, its family members have plenty!

Its big brothers have even more. I buy ammo every chance I get. If you think you have enough, better buy more. We're gonna need it come Nov. 4th when the libtards riot across America after losing.

[circlecity]

“‘At this point, I don’t need a gun. I need ammo.”

Yeah I haven’t shot much at all this summer because I don’t want to deplete my ammo stock. Loading a lot of 308 instead.

[Repealthe17thAmendment]

It's Yahoo.

The best part of the Yahoo news stories was reading the comments afterwards that usually showed how idiotic the story was. But they discontinued comments a few weeks ago.

But what I'm wondering is, why hasn't there been an increase in accidental shootings with all these new gun owners. Instead, all the increase in shootings are coming from areas where they don't do background checks- the ghetto.

[higgmeister]

This girl is a real piece of work.   A psychology Major from University of Pennsylvania and a Masters from USC in Print Journalism.

from PENN:

Graduated Magna Cum Laude
Senior Honors Thesis: The Evolution of Celebrity Journalism and its Effect on Celebrity

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielleolya/

Guilty!   And I don't care how cute she is.

[PubliusMM]

There is NEVER a bad time to prepare.

Buy staples that can be stored.
Buy firearms with which you are familiar and competent.
Stockpile ammunition.
Build up stocks of medical supplies.
Craft an energy alternative solution for you and your family.

These things will stand you in good stead, even if never needed.

[DoodleBob]

80 percent of them would be over in 15 minutes if the victims had guns.

...or if the victims simply turned around and walked away from the _____ (home, lake, creepy guy, whatever).

But, yeah...look what happened when Indy sorta took your advice:

[RainMan]

Similar, I adopted a Ruger PC Charger and got to pick it up from the adoption center today. Fortunately, it uses the same ammo as other family members.

[Haiku Guy]

BLOAT

[Blood of Tyrants]

Yep. Try ammoseek.com or gunbot.net