As Cobb County residents fear for their gun rights in the face of possible new federal weapons laws, thousands have swarmed stores and gun shows. Now, many of them want to know how to use the guns they have been buying in record numbers.

“They really want to know, ‘How can I be safe with this?’” said Marietta Police Officer Dave Baldwin.

He teaches a gun class to the public. Usually, about a hundred people show up for the 90-minute instructional program that covers safe handling of the firearm, storage, loading and unloading as well as other topics. But in Thursday’s class, the first since the Connecticut school shootings in December and the resulting outcry over gun control, 700 people have signed up.

“We were all just awestruck,” Baldwin said.

The huge demand for the gun safety course forced Baldwin to scramble. Until now, the class has been held in the city council chamber. For this huge class, he’s using the Marietta Middle School auditorium.

“We’re almost about to fill it up as well,” he said.