SALT LAKE CITY, Utah -- Defying most pre-conceived notions, Pink Pistols, an LGBT gun rights advocacy group is seeing an explosion of interest in Utah.

The Salt Lake City Pink Pistols chapter has received hundreds of calls over the past few days since a mass shooting in Orlando, said head of the chapter Matt Schlentz.

The group bearing the motto "armed gays don't get bashed" reports a national surge from 1,500 members on Saturday to 3,500 on Monday.

"I know lots of friends, acquaintances, friends of friends, you know, friends’ children who have been attacked just for holding their partners hand or kissing their partner in public," Schlentz said.

At Doug's Shoot N' Sports in Taylorsville, owner Dave Larsen said he's seen a slight uptick in handgun interest. He doesn't ask his clients about their personal lives, but says it wouldn't be a surprise if more LGBT people are walking through his door.

"Somebody might be after them or willing to target them for other reasons. Certainly I can understand that those people in the LGBT community might feel that way," Larsen said.

Schlentz does feel he could be a target. It's why he says the answer for him, is right at his side.

"I do carry a Glock 17 generation 4 in a bravo concealment holster," Schlentz said.