America Armed, But Guns Not Necessarily Loaded [Historic Bullet Shortage!]

AP Report ^ | September 23, 2009

[Steelfish]

America Armed, But Guns Not Necessarily Loaded

By MARY FOSTER, Sep 23 NEW ORLEANS – Bullet-makers are working around the clock, seven days a week, and still can't keep up with the nation's demand for ammunition. Shooting ranges, gun dealers and bullet manufacturers say they have never seen such shortages.

Bullets, especially for handguns, have been scarce for months because gun enthusiasts are stocking up on ammo, in part because they fear President Barack Obama and the Democratic-controlled Congress will pass antigun legislation — even though nothing specific has been proposed and the president last month signed a law allowing people to carry loaded guns in national parks.

Gun sales spiked when it became clear Obama would be elected a year ago and purchases continued to rise in his first few months of office. The FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System reported that 6.1 million background checks for gun sales were issued from January to May, an increase of 25.6 percent from the same period the year before.

"That is going to cause an upswing in ammunition sales," said Larry Keane, senior vice president of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, a trade association representing about 5,000 members. "Without bullets a gun is just a paper weight."

The shortage for sportsmen is different than the scarcity of ammo for some police forces earlier this year, a dearth fueled by an increase in ammo use by the military in Iraq and Afghanistan.

[the invisib1e hand]

So the “sheeple” aren’t quite so dumb after all.

[JoSixChip]

If I had a gun, I would have plenty of ammo already.

[Salamander]

“Stimulus you can believe in”

[TheConservativeParty]

Like SpongeBob says “I’m ready! I’m ready! I’m ready!”.
Nov. 5th, my shopping began. Way before any shortage. There is no such thing as too much ammo, but I may be close.

[SaxxonWoods]

Writer is trying to have it both ways.

“Gun nuts stocking up.”

“Nobody can get any bullets.”

[jy8z]

I have four weapons in three different calibers with 5000 rounds backing each one up. They are loaded.
I just don't know if it is enough.

[the invisib1e hand]

“Stimulus you can believe in”

You got that right.

[umgud]

Everybody keep missing the bigger story here;

Millions more guns added to the citizenry, yet no corresponding spike in "blood in the streets." That's because these were bought by law abiding citizens.

[Jeff Head]

Most folks are simply upping their ammo supply from the hundreds to the many thousands.

912: AMERICA AWAKENS IN 2009

[Noumenon]

My serious shopping began back in 1996-7. And I’ve never stopped since. Oh, a little hiatus here and there. The price stickers on my 1000 round cases of IMI .308 say $239.00/1000. Argentine surplus was even cheaper. Those were the days...

[Fiddlstix]

[fish hawk]

Most of us smart ones do.

[fish hawk]

According to you figures you have enough to kill 20,000 bad guys. That is about all I would ask of you. Now if you add me to that and then add many more freepers to that, it should be enough to make us a majority. LOL

[oldenuff2no]

There is no such thing as “Plenty of ammo.”

[Lancey Howard]

LOL, I know I have plenty of ammo.

[raptor29]

Seriously, anyone really having trouble finding ammo these days? I have purchased quite a bit in several different calibers, and there are multiple vendors to choose from.

[IrishCatholic]

When all is said and done, the people know.

[LukeL]

I have seen that ammo prices have dropped a lot recently, I bought 500 rds of 762 for 240 and now it is at 180.

FWIW you can never have too much ammo as a zombie invasion could happen at any moment.

[Spktyr]

Non-surplus 7.62 NATO is damn hard to get ahold of, so is .45 ACP and 9mm. Not impossible, but you better be there shortly after the truck drops them off..