OREM, Utah – A startling face outside a gun shop in Utah County as hundreds line up to buy ammunition.
The line stretched throughout the day around Gunnies, located at 396 South State Street in Orem, on Saturday.
Some traveled as far as Kamas to wait for hours in the cold.
KSL-TV spoke to a number of people – some said they came for the loaded ammunition, others were more anxious. They cited current political events – the aftermath of the GA, an imminent transfer of power and the violence on Wednesday at the US Capitol. Many in the queue also shouted, “Biden is going to take our guns.”
“There were people here, 200 were standing in line in front of the store opening,” said rifle owner Mark Greer who was driving from South Jordan.
Recently, there has been a shortage of the most popular ammunition.
“It’s going fast because there’s no one there,” Greer said.
The ammunition shortage began in the late spring of 2020 when the coronavirus changed production.
Ammunition was on and off the shelves, but Gunnies reloaded its AR-15 ammunition supply on Saturday.
“Perfect storm for the supply of weapons,” Chris Hansen said.
The masses got their hands on part of the consignment.
One Gunnies employee could not get the ammunition on the boards fast enough.
“This case has 1,000 rounds,” the worker said. “I’ve been through ten boxes in two hours.”
Because the store has seen sheds in the past, a restriction has been placed on what a customer can buy.
“On this 223-556 in which everyone is here today, we allow 200 rounds per customer,” Hansen said.
Gunnies sellers said they’ve seen some of their busiest days ever this year, adding the store is usually not so busy in January.
“We’ve seen a rush of guns and ammunition before – but never in January,” Hansen said. “After Christmas it usually decreases, but this year was exactly the opposite.”
They mentioned that when Obama was elected in 2008 and again in 2012, guns and ammunition were being chased.
Those in the queue expressed different reasons for showing up.
“With the changes coming from a new presidential administration, people are worried about their 2nd Amendment rights,” Greer said. “That’s why you see so much here today.”
“People come in and they’m pretty scared. They feel they are being attacked, ”said Josh Hansen, an employee of Gunnies. “They feel the need to fight back or at least protect themselves.”
According to US government experts, any proposed amendment to the Constitution must be accepted 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 is unlikely and challenging.
In the history of the United States, Prohibition is the only amendment ever revoked.