Two million men and women have served in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and those that return home, especially those who have been injured, face a 9.1 percent unemployment rate. And for young veterans without a college degree, it's more than double that.

One local man is rising above those challenges, despite coping with the debilitating loss of both legs and severely injuring his arm during combat.

Panama City native, Sergeant Joshua Cope, is taking his knowledge of weaponry and making a career out of it.

Sergeant Cope recently started his own company called "Vet Arms". He's one of more than sixty vendors that set up at the Panama City gun and knife show at the Bay County Fairgrounds this weekend. It was Sgt. Cope's first gun show with his new company and he plans to eventually open up his own gun shop.

"I started it because I wanted to bring on board other wounded soldiers so I can have other people in my company to help me out and everything. And so I can give them something to do and so I have something to do," said Cope.

Sergeant Cope started his gun business about a month ago and will be at another gun show in Melbourne, Florida next weekend.