OREM, Utah – A great sight outside a gun store in Utah County, where hundreds were queuing to buy ammunition.
The line stretched around Gunnies, located at 396 South State Street in Orem, all day on Saturdays.
Some traveled to Kamas to wait for hours in the cold.
KSL-TV spoke to a number of people – some said they came for the replenished ammunition, others were more anxious. They mentioned the current political events – the layoff of the terms and conditions, a future transfer of power, and Wednesday’s violence at the Capitol. Many in the line also shouted, “Biden is going to get our weapons.”
“There were people down here, 200 in a row before the store opened,” said gun owner Mark Greer driving from South Jordan.
Recently there has been a shortage of the most popular ammunition.
“It’s moving fast because there isn’t one,” said Greer.
The ammunition shortage started in the late spring of 2020 when the coronavirus changed production.
Ammunition has been on and off the shelves, but Gunnies topped up their supply of AR-15 ammo on Saturday.
“Perfect storm for arms deliveries,” said arms salesman Chris Hansen.
The masses came to get their hands on some of that cargo.
A Gunnies employee was unable to get the ammunition on the shelves fast enough.
“This case has 1000 rounds,” said the worker. “I’ve already gone through 10 boxes in two hours.”
Since the store has seen hoarding in the past, there was a limit on what a customer could buy.
“On this 223-556 we’ve gotten everyone to be here for the day, we’re allowing 200 rounds per customer,” said Hansen.
Gunnies salesmen said they have had some of their busiest days ever this year, adding the store is usually not that busy in January.
“We’ve seen a run on guns and ammunition before – but never in January,” said Hansen. “It usually slows down after Christmas, but this year it was quite the opposite.”
They said that when Obama was elected in 2008 and again in 2012, there was a run on guns and ammunition.
Those in line gave different reasons for showing up.
“With the changes coming from a new presidential government, people are concerned about their 2nd amendment rights,” said Greer. “That’s why you see so much here today.”
“People come in and they are quite scared. They feel they are under attack, ”said Josh Hansen, Gunnies employee. “They feel the need to fight back, or at least protect themselves.”
According to United States government experts, any proposed amendment to the constitution must be passed by both the House and Senate by a two-thirds majority. It would then have to be ratified by three-quarters of the 50 states, or 38 of them.
Historically, this has proved unlikely and challenging.
In the history of the United States, the only amendment ever repealed is prohibition.