As concerns over the continued spread of the coronavirus escalate in the United States, millions of people are now flocking to retail outlets to stock up on essentials such as water, milk, bread, toilet paper, and guns; a lot of guns.

Concerns over the rapid spread of Covid-19, coupled with fears of more restrictive gun legislation such as the imposition of universal background checks, has caused a massive increase in demand for guns and ammo in various states throughout the country. Gun store owners have reported a surge in visitors over the past few weeks, including new buyers who have never owned a gun in their life.

Suppliers have mostly been able to keep up with the demand as customers continue to purchase different types of firearms, including rifles, shotguns, and handguns as well as ammunition. The surge in firearm purchases also coincides with the increased use of gun ranges throughout the nation as customers learn to use their newly purchased tools.

Industry experts have stated that people are increasingly becoming worried about how they will be able to protect their families and property given the current circumstances. However, some have argued that the increased demand is likely caused by an elevated concern over possible restrictions on firearm purchases if the situation worsens.

In Illinois, a city mayor had reportedly signed an executive order with a clause than banned the sale of firearms amidst the crisis. City officials later clarified that the order actually did not halt all firearm purchases. Unfortunately, the initial news had already spread like wildfire, raising concerns that other officials in other states would follow suit and impede people’s constitutional rights.

The surge in demand for firearms has been likened to the panic buying during the Y2K scare and the hoarding of guns immediately after the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in 2012.

The high demand for guns has resulted in a spike in the stock prices of major gun manufacturers. Shares of Sturm, Ruger & Co surged on Wednesday, closing at around $41.76 per share, peaking at $49.61 per share during the week. As major indexes such as the Dow Jones Industrial Average continues to plummet, stock prices of gun manufacturers climb higher as people start to arm themselves during these uncertain times.