Ammunition Shortage Squeezes Police

[one...two...tree 2,762]

By ESTES THOMPSON

The Associated Press

-- Troops training for and fighting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are firing more than 1 billion bullets a year, contributing to ammunition shortages hitting police departments nationwide and preventing some officers from training with the weapons they carry on patrol.

An Associated Press review of dozens of police and sheriff's departments found that many are struggling with delays of as long as a year for both handgun and rifle ammunition. And the shortages are resulting in prices as much as double what departments were paying just a year ago.

"There were warehouses full of it. Now, that isn't the case," said Al Aden, police chief in Pierre, S.D.

Departments in all parts of the country reported delays or reductions in training and, in at least one case, a proposal to use paint-ball guns in firing drills as a way to conserve real ammo.

Forgoing proper, repetitive weapons training comes with a price on the streets, police say, in diminished accuracy, quickness on the draw and basic decision-making skills.

"You are not going to be as sharp or as good, especially if an emergency situation comes up," said Sgt. James MacGillis, range master for the Milwaukee police. "The better-trained officer is the one that is less likely to use force."

The pinch is blamed on a skyrocketing demand for ammunition that followed the start of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, driven by the training needs of a military at war, and, ironically, police departments raising their own practice regiments following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The increasingly voracious demand for copper and lead overseas, especially in China, has also been a factor.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...7081701310.html

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

I'll give them some of mine. I have plenty.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I'll give them some of mine. I have plenty.

They might just take it from you.

[almaty 19]

wow, a lack of ammo..this is america, we need to make more....

wow, a lack of ammo..this is america, we need to make more....

[Ban Hammer 14,651]

that's what happens when police are armed with 5.56 rifles and 9mm handguns (both underpowered)

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

I'll give them some of mine. I have plenty.

They might just take it from you.

Let em try. They're the ones running out of ammo

[Cantankerous 0]

I think the article is pure BS. I can buy thousands of the rounds they talked about just here in town not to mention the plethora of websites that sell ammo cans galore of whatever you need.

Does anyone really think the 80,000,000 plus owners of over 200,000,000 firearms in the US are short on ammo?

We had to cancel practice because we couldn’t get any .38 or .40 or .223 ammo. Tell them to go to www.shooting-hunting.com and click on ammunition for easy access to over 200 online ammo dealers.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I think the article is pure BS. I can buy thousands of the rounds they talked about just here in town not to mention the plethora of websites that sell ammo cans galore of whatever you need.

Does anyone really think the 80,000,000 plus owners of over 200,000,000 firearms in the US are short on ammo?

We had to cancel practice because we couldn’t get any .38 or .40 or .223 ammo. Tell them to go to www.shooting-hunting.com and click on ammunition for easy access to over 200 online ammo dealers.

It does sound kind of odd, but maybe their orders are super large?

[Ban Hammer 14,651]

I think the article is pure BS. I can buy thousands of the rounds they talked about just here in town not to mention the plethora of websites that sell ammo cans galore of whatever you need.

Does anyone really think the 80,000,000 plus owners of over 200,000,000 firearms in the US are short on ammo?

We had to cancel practice because we couldn’t get any .38 or .40 or .223 ammo. Tell them to go to www.shooting-hunting.com and click on ammunition for easy access to over 200 online ammo dealers.

It does sound kind of odd, but maybe their orders are super large?

the only ammo used in large quantities by the military are .223 (5.56 mm) and 9mm.

[Cantankerous 0]

It does sound kind of odd, but maybe their orders are super large?

I really think the goal of the article was to imply that because of the War we are less safe at home because the Police can not get ammo.

I'll take .38 ammo for an example from the article; which is a round that is not used by the military. This round is manufactured by Winchester, Remmington, Pachmayr, Ultramax, Hornady, Federal, CCI, etc. and I can go to just one website and order 50,000 rounds no problem and have my order shipped to me in a week. Same with .40 ammo.

I should tell that one guy who has been waiting a year for his ammo that he could call me and I’ll buy the brass, bullets, primers and powder and load him up all he wants.