As a new restrictive gun control measures work their way through the Maryland legislature, many residents of the Old Line State are preparing by stocking up. NBC4 reports that applications for gun sales increased dramatically in December 2012 and January 2013, likely in response to post-Newtown lawmaking:

Amid concerns about stricter gun laws in Maryland following the school shooting in Newtown, Conn., in December, many people have flocked to gun shops to buy weapons that could be banned Oct. 1.

In December and January, state police received about 26,000 applications — more than half the number of applications (46,000) in all of 2011.

Right now, that sharp spike in sales at gun stores has caused a mountain of work for the licensing division at MSP. The agency has gone to staffing 21 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Maryland Senate approved a bill in late February that would so-called assault weapons and require residents to obtain a license to purchase a handgun; the bill faces committee votes in the House of Delegates this week.

After the Newtown massacre, Virginians similarly flocked to gun stores in anticipation of possible restrictions on gun purchases.