The COVID-19 coronavirus that originated in Wuhan, China is having dramatic effects on our entire society, and that includes our right to keep and bear arms. The NRA’s Annual Meeting has been cancelled, sheriffs offices are starting to pause their processing of concealed carry licenses, and legislative hearings on gun control bills have been postponed, along with pro-2A rallies.

At the same time, we’re seeing reports of increased gun sales, at least in southern California, and I suspect that the fear and uncertainty felt by so many Americans at the moment is translating into new gun owners all across the country.

We talk about this and more on today’s Bearing Arms’ Cam & Co, including some thoughts from listeners and viewers on how they’re preparing to socially distance themselves for a period of several weeks.

My wife is immuno-compromised, thanks to her lung cancer, so we’re being extra cautious at my place. We’re not quite sheltering in place, but the only off-farm trips we’re making at the moment are for necessities like her cancer treatment. We have several weeks worth of food on-hand, though that’s more to stay away from grocery stores and exposure to germs than fear of the stores running out of food.

Everyone coming into our home takes off their shoes and proceeds to the sink to wash their hands, and we wash them regularly throughout the day just to be on the safe side. I wash my beard almost as often, but I’m not quite ready to go as far as my friend Jon Stokes from The Prepared.

I did something today I haven't done in at least 20 years: shaved my face clean. My kids almost didn't recognize me. I did it for mask fitment reasons per CDC recs. I also fitted a P100 respirator, & got my eye protection together.

— jonstokes.com (@jonst0kes) March 13, 2020

I’m willing to make that sacrifice if need be, but for now I’m just keeping the beard scrubbed on a regular basis.

I’d like to follow up today’s show with some more viewer/listener responses, so feel free to answer in the comments below or send me an email at cam.edwards@bearingarms. A few questions for you:

• How well are you prepared to spend a couple of weeks at your home if need be?
• How has your life changed already because of the response to the coronavirus, or the virus itself?
• On a scale of 1-10, how concerned are you about the coronavirus?
• On a scale of 1-10, how concerned are you about the public response to the coronavirus?

I’m not an expert on pandemics or panics, but as someone who’s had his share of bad news, and dealt with fear and uncertainty quite a bit over the past few years, I do have a little bit of advice if you’re feeling stressed out and overwhelmed by all of the upheaval at the moment.

Tune out for a little while. It’s really okay to turn off the television, step away from the computer, and force yourself to forget about things for even a couple of hours. The world and all its problems will still be here when you return, but go read a book, or work on your reloads, practice your dry fire exercises, take a walk, play with a dog, lose yourself in a video game, watch your favorite dumb comedy, or something else that allows you to just mentally check out for a little bit. Think of it as a staycation for your head.

What we’re going through now, and what we’re likely to be going through over the next couple of months, is not the new normal. It will not be the new normal. We’re living in the abnormal right now, and it’s okay to be a little freaked out by that. Worry doesn’t solve any problems, though, so as hard as it may be, it’s important to give your heart and soul at least a little rest from the worry and strife when you can.

It’s not all coronavirus on today’s show, by the way. We also have conclusion to an armed citizen story that began more than a year ago, as well as a 27-year old woman from Massachusetts who braved a house fire to help rescue the strangers inside.

Thanks as always for watching, listening, and spreading the word!