Vehicles backed up for miles as crowds gathered in line to get a chance to enter the gun and knife show held at the Lamar Dixon Expo Hall in Gonzales on Saturday and Sunday.

The show was organized by Classic Arms Productions, a company based in Mandeville, La.

According to the Classic Arms website, marketing director Sondra Hewett has been involved in running various gun shows since 1993 and formed Classic Arms Productions in 1995.

Hewett said the recent atmosphere surrounding firearms in the country resulted in the large crowd present throughout the weekend, as well as in the past few weeks.

“It’s been three times the normal attendance lately,” Hewett said.

More than 250 vendors comprised of small gun businesses and different gun shops from around the state were present at the show, offering customers a wide range of gun-related items.

“We sell guns, ammo, military surplus, clips and anything gun-related,” Hewett said.

Chemical engineering senior Brian Apple is a seasoned gun enthusiast who has visited gun and knife shows in the past.

While Apple said gun show prices are normally higher than those found elsewhere, they offer advantages to customers not found at retail stores.

“You can hire a salesman at Academy, Cabela’s or Wal-Mart in the hunting section that doesn’t know anything about [guns],” Apple said.

Apple said vendors that usually work the gun shows are extremely familiar with the product they are selling. This offers the customer a chance to get expert knowledge on the product they are buying.

Visitors from out of state were in attendance over the weekend as well, often waiting hours before entering the expo hall.

Texas resident Lucas Dagan stood in the long line to catch a glimpse of the vast array of items present at the show.

“This is my first time at a gun show. I’m in town and was just bored and figured I would come check it out. I’m just curious,” Dagan said.

“It’s been three times the normal attendance lately.”