Law enforcement officers in Arizona have been preparing for a possible “gun law of the shock” by purchasing “more than $600,000 worth of high-capacity ammunition,” according to the Arizona Republic.
The newspaper reports that law enforcement agencies from across the state are purchasing the large amounts of ammo to supplement their arsenal of firearms.
The Associated Press reports that the purchase is part of a nationwide push by law enforcement to purchase more weapons as a way to counter the rise in violent crime.
The purchase comes as the state faces a national gun control debate over gun control laws and is facing a public health crisis from the Zika virus.
According to the AP, law enforcement officials are also buying the large amount of ammo “to supplement their guns” as they deal with a rising number of suicides among law enforcement officers.
Arizona already has strict gun control legislation on the books, including the sale of high capacity magazines and a ban on the manufacture, sale and transfer of assault weapons.
It is the latest in a string of states to take action to deal with the increase in gun violence in the U.S. The Arizona Republic reported that the purchases came as the State Attorney General and the Arizona Sheriff’s Association were drafting legislation to ban assault weapons, which are used by some of the most violent criminals in the nation.