Gun store ribboncutting

The Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce helped a second gun store open its doors on Monday. Patriot Arms on Westwood Drive, owned by longtime gun and hunting enthusiast Forest Gordon, has been in operation unofficially since March and offers a full line of firearms, as well as gun cleaning and gunsmithing services, and gun safety, training and shooting classes. “Basically, anything to do with the firearms industry, we do here,” said Gordon, who also operated  a gun shop on West Main Street back in the 1990s. He added that the store would also stock a variety of hunting-related items and equipment. Business hours are from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday. Here, Gordon cuts the ribbon on his store, while Chamber board members and staff look on. (Dave Mosier/Van Wert independent)