Ammo Supply Can't Keep Up With Demand

Fearing tighter laws under Obama, 12B rounds fly off shelves
By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 3, 2009 1:35 PM CST
Ammo Supply Can't Keep Up With Demand
Various types of ammunition for handguns at a range.   (AP Photo)

Crime is down, gun control is on Obama's back burner, and Americans are buying more ammunition than factories can produce. While there are economic reasons—supply is off as the war effort eats up necessary materials—Americans have still managed to buy 12 billion rounds in the past year, up from 7 to 10 billion in a regular year, and most agree it’s for fear of tighter gun control laws under a Democratic president.

People are buying ammo for guns they don’t yet have, a retailer tells the Washington Post. They say, “When I get it, ammunition may be hard to get.” Federal tax receipts for gun sales are up 42% over last year; for ammunition, that number is 49%. The pattern of hoarding ammunition under a Democratic administration is nothing new, a gun control advocate says, but “it is a pattern that has tremendous risk attached to it.” Poppycock, counters an NRA official. The activity is perfectly legal, and folks are just “worrying” about whether “they’ll be attacked by politicians.” Presumably via legislation… (More Obama administration stories.)

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