The “Beto Specials” started out as an offhand idea — just a jab at presidential hopeful Beto O’Rourke, for proposing to confiscate military assault-style weapons at last week’s Democratic debate.

But when Matt Boggs announced the sale on AR-15s and AK-47s at his Tempe store, Alpha Dog Firearms, he was overwhelmed by the response.

“I thought I could make a little Facebook post, maybe get 20 people to buy a rifle, and that’d be the end of it,” Boggs said.½

Instead, he said, the store has sold 500 firearms in the past four days — much more than the 100 they usually sell per month. The store phone’s message box is full and Boggs’ seven-person staff is just barely keeping up with the orders.

They’ve had to revamp one section of the store into a receiving area for new inventory.

“Our first day that we did the sale, I actually had to call an employee in and have him answer phones. That was his job the entire day, was just to answer phones,” Boggs said.

Boggs said he hasn’t made a profit from the massive influx in sales — in fact, after factoring expenses out, he’s actually lost some money, he said.

But he’s grateful for the exposure the store has received.

Political figures continue to debate whether stricter background checks for purchasing firearms could help cut down on gun-related violence in the United States. In 2019 alone, there have been 303 mass shootings, according to the nonprofit Gun Violence Archive.

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But Boggs and other critics of stricter gun control argue that an inanimate object, like a gun, can’t be blamed for people’s decisions.

Although he acknowledges the issue of gun control is politically charged, Boggs said his intent with the sale was never to make a political statement.

“I’m fully aware that, obviously, gun control is a huge political thing,” Boggs said. “It was just me being me, and I’m kind of an interesting guy. I say things and then … this is what happens.”

Co-owner Tony Marinucci put it this way: “It’s not political at all, just simply constitutional.''

Marinucci, a Marine Corps veteran, said the store has received calls and emails from people all over the country — “especially Texas.”

He said police chiefs, firemen and active military duty members alike have called the store, thanking them for running the sale and asking to buy firearms.

“They appreciate and support what we’re doing, not in any sort of political sense, but just standing up for the Second Amendment,” Marinucci said.

Alpha Dog Firearms is marketed as a veteran-owned operation; everyone, except for Boggs, is a veteran. As of last week, the staff finished filing initial paperwork to establish a foundation that will be called Alpha Dog 6, according to Boggs.

The purpose of the foundation, once established, will be to help get homeless veterans off the street. Alpha Dog 6 will be in line with the store’s mission to give back to the community and being inclusive, Boggs said.

“We’re a super inclusive gun store,” Boggs said.

In the meantime, Boggs said he plans to keep the “Beto Specials” going for as long as possible.

“At some point I'll have to shut it down, but for now, the outpouring of support we’ve had from this has just been so overwhelming, that at this point I feel like it's important to keep going,” he said.