OREM, Utah – An incredible sight outside a Utah County gun store, with hundreds of people lining up to buy ammunition.
The line extended around Gunnies, located at 396 South State Street in Orem, throughout Saturday.
Some traveled to Kamas to wait hours in the cold.
KSL-TV talked to several people – some said they came to get refilled ammunition, others were more anxious. They mentioned current political events – the second round of GA, a future transfer of power and Wednesday’s violence on the United States Capitol. Many in line also shouted, “Biden is going to get our weapons.”
“There were people here, 200 lined up before the store opened,” said the gun owner, Mark Greer, who drove from South Jordan.
Recently, there has been a shortage of the most popular ammunition.
“It’s fast because there is no one out there,” said Greer.
The lack of ammunition began in late spring 2020, when the coronavirus changed manufacturing.
Ammunition went in and out of the shelves, but Gunnies replenished his stock of AR-15 ammunition on Saturday.
“Perfect storm for supplying weapons,” said arms dealer Chris Hansen.
The masses came to lay hands on part of that load.
A Gunnies employee was unable to get the ammo on the shelves quickly enough.
“This case has 1,000 rounds,” said the worker. “I’ve been through 10 boxes in two hours.”
As the store has seen accumulation in the past, there was a limit to what the customer could buy.
“In this 223-556 that we received and that everyone is here today, we are allowing 200 rounds per customer,” said Hansen.
Gunnies sales representatives said they saw some of their busiest days this year, adding that the store is not usually full in January.
“We’ve seen a wave of weapons and ammunition before – but never in January,” said Hansen. “Usually, after Christmas, it decreases, but this year was just the opposite.”
They mentioned that when Obama was elected in 2008 and again in 2012, there was a race for arms and ammunition.
Those in line expressed different reasons for attending.
“With the changes that come from a new Presidential Administration, people are concerned about their 2nd Amendment rights,” said Greer. “That’s why you see so many here today.”
“People are arriving and they are very afraid. They feel like they are being attacked, ”said Gunnies employee Josh Hansen. “They feel the need to fight, or at least protect themselves.”
According to experts from the United States government, any proposed amendment to the constitution needs to be approved by both the House and the Senate, with two-thirds majorities. 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 that has ever been repealed is Prohibition.