Posted on 04/28/2009 7:27:55 AM PDT by newgeezer
Life is good at Mid America Arms in south St. Louis County.
Traffic inside the gun shop has doubled in recent months. Sales are up a solid 40 percent. And they can't keep the shelves stocked.
What started late last year — about the time President Barack Obama took office — as a nationwide surge in gun buying has evolved into something much larger. Good luck finding ammo for all those guns. Or the components and tools to make your own.
At stores such as Mid America, empty shelves and disappointed customers speak volumes about a supply-and-demand equation that's been knocked off its fulcrum by changes in the political landscape. The most popular calibers — 9 mm and .380, for example — are difficult, if not impossible, to find. And new shipments don't last long.
"It's a struggle," said Al Rothweiler, one of the owners. "Where someone used to buy two boxes of ammo, now they buy four, five or six boxes."
Rothweiler and others say it's pretty easy to explain ...
Most of the fingers point to fears that Obama and the Democratic-controlled Congress eventually will get around to pushing for new laws restricting gun ownership and placing severe tax rates on ammunition sales. So people are buying guns and ammo before that happens.
"They realize this administration does pose a risk to their Second Amendment freedoms," said Alexa Fritts, spokeswoman for the National Rifle Association.
For its part, Obama's administration has been fairly quiet on the subject, citing the need to focus on the economy and other issues at this time.
However, the president's urban policy agenda, at whitehouse.gov, makes it clear that Obama would like to make permanent the so-called "assault weapons" ban that was signed by Bill Clinton in 1994 but allowed to expire in 2004.
(Excerpt) Read more at stltoday.com ...
When you’re goin’ ta war, you gotta have guns and ammo!
Joe Brower may have one. Otherwise, just watch the “banglist” keyword.
"Why don’t factories ramp up production? Obama was elected in November. I suspect they are using this to ramp up the price or will do so." They claim that they ARE at 100% capacity, 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week. If I'm running a factory, and we have a spur in demand, we will have overtime to meet demand.
The 'serious' part of the equation is "Does a factory invest gazillions to increase capacity to meet the current demand?". Given the minimal profit in ammo, is this demand going to last another 30 days, or 6 months, or the foreseeable future? I'd hate to expand my factory, and then see demand drop to levels seen last year.
“We’re told that more guns = more crime. So why hasn’t the crime rate gone up as fast as the gun sales?”
because no one can find ammo or ammo is just too damned expensive for criminals..../tongue in cheek
Prepare for the worst, hope for the best...
What are prices like now?
Bouchard also noted that he can typically hit the broad side of a barn at 50 paces. His annual practice shot is coming in May and he hopes to keep it within a 12 foot diameter target. "At the rate I use ammo," he added "I'll shoot another 40-50 rounds before I die. I don't know why anyone needs more than that."
Effing idiot.
Prices have risen over 100%.
For example, Winchester “white box” 9mm (100rnds FMJ, bulk-packed) used to sell for 9.99 at Wal-Mart. Now, they’re over $20, if you can find them.
1000rnd cases of 5.56mm FMJ have jumped from under $200 to over $400 (and up to $500 for some brands).
Again, if you can find them.
Why would that be a given, especially in a shortage?
Had to get the tax receipts in for April 15th. Too much of an opportunity to tell the feds to go to hell if they passed all that crap in the first 100 days.
Then you have no place at the table of debate because you don't know enough to have an opinion.
People need to, seriously, ask themselves....”What is the government afraid of when it comes to our people owning guns?”
A wise and revealing question. Our founders made the 2nd amendment quite specific, in spite of the phony arguments advanced by gun grabbers over the years. “...the RIGHT to keep and BEAR arms SHALL NOT be infringed.” There was no “unless”, “but”, or “in the event of” language anywhere included. And the purpose of the amendment is equally definite. It exists to provide means for the American people to overthrow a tyrannical state—a criminal government. And that is the basis for the perpetual fear of the arrogant, the tyrannical and the would-be dictators who have made “public service” a personal avenue to power and wealth.
I'm a sport shooter and go through 1000 rounds a week. I've been lucky to find a re-loader that's supplying me 45 ACP 230 ball for about 27 cents apiece, but I doubt that price is going to last much longer. A hundred rounds at any gun shop is approaching $1, and most places won't even allow you to place an order for back order. There you go! I expect the price to go up more. As more people panic buy the manufacturers and retailers will rake in the profits without having to spend to expand production.
It's already too late
I have about 5000 rnds of 5.56 and about 2000rnds of pistol calibar (mostly 9mm) ammo in storage. I stocked up a few years ago.
I’m saving up for the inevitable “glut” of ammo, once people have outspent themselves on the expensive stuff.
The first thing my powder supplier said as I walked into the gun show Saturday, "I didn't bring anything you ordered." He went on to say that Hodgdon can't even get containers to package and ship their products. It looks like the entire supply chain has been stressed beyond capacity.
Just wait. There will be another Columbine or Virgina that will shock the nation. It will be then that Team Obama pounces. The MSM, already haters of the Second Amendment, will pimp hard for Obama. And then it will happen.
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