Daily Wire's Pro-ICE Film 'Pawn Shop' Halted Amid 17% Food Bank Attendance Drop and Locals Feel Unsafe

Production of The Daily Wire's controversial film 'Pawn Shop' has been temporarily suspended in Montana amid concerns from residents and businesses about disruptions, food-bank access, and filming activities.

The Livingston City Commission voted on Saturday, 3 October, to temporarily suspend Bonfire Pawn Shop LLC's permit following complaints from residents and businesses.

The commission's action came amid complaints about disruptions to local businesses and the Livingston Food Resource Center, which reported a 17% drop in pantry attendance during filming, while residents said some production activities made them feel unsafe.

The commission is seeking legal advice on whether to amend, continue the suspension of, or revoke the permit, with the matter due back before commissioners by 5pm on Monday, 5 October.

Food Bank Attendance Fell 17%

The Livingston Food Resource Center, which says it serves one in eight Park County residents, said filming had created additional barriers for people trying to access food. 'Since filming began across the street from our building, road closures and armed security guards have increased the barriers to accessing food,' the centre said in a statement.

The centre said attendance at its pantry fell 17% on Tuesday, 29 September, an eight-week low compared with the 90 to 100-plus households it typically sees a day.

It also said it had not been notified about the filming plans and only learned how the production would affect its operations after staff contacted the city. The centre said many of its clients do not have phones, internet access or social media, and that its internal policy is to give clients at least four weeks' notice of changes affecting access to its services.

The centre said it had rerouted traffic through its parking lot to reduce confusion and planned to ask the city to introduce stronger notice and community-access protections into future film permits.

Local reporting also said access to the centre was disrupted during filming, while the centre's director said some security guards had stopped clients attempting to enter.

Locals Raise Safety Concerns

Residents have also raised concerns about simulated gunfire, pyrotechnics and a staged car crash, with complaints that some people were not adequately informed about the activity.

During the commission meeting, residents said the production had made them feel unsafe. Commissioner Cindy Daniels criticised the disruption, saying the filmmakers were not considering 'the veterans that live on K Street' or the food resource centre.

Livingston Police Chief Wayne Hard said his department had received complaints daily since filming began, according to Deadline.

The commission ultimately voted to immediately suspend Bonfire Pawn Shop LLC's permit.

About the 'Pawn Shop'

'Pawn Shop' is directed by Michael Polish and is a collaboration between Ben Shapiro's Daily Wire and Dallas Sonnier's Bonfire Legend, with filming taking place in Livingston under that working title.

The film centres on a young federal agent who seeks refuge in a pawn shop after his partner is seriously injured amid unrest in Minneapolis. He becomes trapped there with a Hispanic father and the man's progressive college-age son, according to the reported synopsis.

The film has been described by local residents and protesters as having a pro-ICE perspective. TheWrap reported that the film appears to dramatise the January 2026 fatal shooting of Renée Good by an ICE officer in Minnesota.

Production had been scheduled to continue in Livingston through 10 October. The temporary suspension leaves the film's immediate schedule uncertain while the city reviews its permit. The Daily Wire has not issued an official statement about the suspension.