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Americans, their children in tow, have flocked to the first major gun show in Orlando since last month's nightclub massacre, seeking "protection".
Local Florida media reported the first day of the two-day event was packed, despite the city still grieving for the 49 people who lost their lives when lone gunman, Omar Mateen, opened fire in the gay nightclub Pulse on June 12.
Seven gun shows are held every year at the Central Florida Fairgrounds in Orlando, with as many as 12,000 visitors turning up.
American ABC news affiliate WFTV said that, based on Saturday's turnout, organisers were expecting record attendances at the July 4 long weekend fair.
People interviewed by the station said they were concerned about their safety in the wake of the shooting, hence their interest in investigating guns for personal protection.
The Orlando Sentinel reported long queues were long for classes in concealed weapons certification held at the show.
The show's organiser, Khaled Akkawi, told the Sentinel he expected double his usual crowd of 6000.
"[It's] because of all the guns in the media and after the tragedy at Pulse and what came afterward with all the media and the coverage," Mr Akkawi said.
Local Frank Preziuso, also noticed the bigger crowd.
"The line to get in told me that it was fuller," he told the Sentinel, holding a 12-gauge semi-automatic shotgun he was hoping to sell.
"Always [after]… these tragedies that happen, people come out and shop for their safety."
Renewed interest in guns is also being felt in gun lobby groups catering for the gay community in parts of the US.
Memberships have more than doubled in a LGBT pro-gun rights organisation since the Pulse massacre.
Matt Schlentz, president of the Pink Pistols' Utah chapter, said membership has grown from 1500 to 4000 in the past three weeks,
"It's really sad that something on this scale had to happen for people to realise this is a need for our community," Mr Schlentz said.
"But the reality is we still get attacked for kissing our partners or holding hands in public. We get windows smashed for having an equality sticker on them."
Mr Schlentz, who owns semi-automatic rifles similar to the Sig Sauer MCX that Mateen used, said he gets mixed reactions from people who learn he's a gun rights advocate.
"Obviously, as a gay man, I have to have some liberal views socially. But on this one point, I have very conservative views," he said.
"The reality is what it is – the world is a violent, terrible, scary place, and people do wish me harm based on who I love."
Stonewall Shooting Sports of Utah is another pro-gun LGBT group.
"As awful as Orlando is, I feel like this is a huge eye-opener for a lot of people that the world is not a perfect place, especially for a group that's at risk for this kind of violence," said Scott Mogilefsky, the group's president and an Army veteran.
There was an increase in people inquiring with the group after Orlando, he said.
"Security should be armed at all gay nightclubs, and all employees should run through a defensive shooting course once a year," Mr Mogilefsky said.
"When you think about supremacist groups, a gay bar is an easy target. And the shooter knew that. It was like shooting fish in a barrel."
On Tuesday, the FBI released figures on federal background checks conducted as part of gun purchases. CNN reported the number skyrocketed after the Orlando massacre: more than 2.1 million background checks were done in June 2016, up from 1.5 million in June 2015.
At the same time, pressure is mounting for changes to gun laws in the US with Democrats claiming a shift in attitudes towards historical gun rights, although attempts to tighten control measures stalled in Congress last month.
Meanwhile, still in Florida, a father accidentally shot and killed his 14-year-old on Sunday.
William Brumby was firing his weapon at the High Noon Gun Range in Sarasota when a spent shell casing deflected off a nearby wall and landed inside his shirt.
A statement from the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office said Mr Brumby then tried to remove the shell while holding the gun and accidentally fired it at his son Stephen.
The boy later died in hospital. The father's two other children were with him but were not injured. Investigations are continuing.
- with AP
