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Title: Fear Of New Regs Drives Gun, Ammo Shortage
Source:
Associated Press
URL Source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap ... dktiyq5rfkevDE2rauhnwD977SAKG0
Published: Mar 29, 2009
Author: BEN NEARY
Post Date: 2009-03-29 18:05:25 by Brian S
Keywords: None
Views: 288
Comments: 21
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Concern that the Obama administration could impose a new ban on some semiautomatic weapons is driving worried gun owners to stockpile ammunition and cartridge reloading components at such a rate that manufacturers can't meet demand. Attorney General Eric Holder last month suggested that the Obama Administration favors reinstituting a U.S. ban on the sale of assault weapons. President Bill Clinton first signed such a ban into law in 1994, generally blocking some military-style guns with magazines that hold many cartridges. President George Bush had allowed the ban to expire. "We have heard from all across the country that there is a tremendous shortage of ammunition," said Lawrence Keane, senior vice president of the National Shooting Sports Foundation. "We've heard this from the manufacturers, that their customers are calling them trying to get supplies for inventory, and that the manufacturers are going full-bore, pardon the pun." The Newtown, Conn.-based foundation is a trade organization representing firearms and ammunition manufacturers as well as retail gun shops. "Semiautomatic rifles are selling at an incredibly brisk pace," said Keane, adding that many manufacturers of semiautomatic rifles and pistols are already so backordered that this year's entire production is already spoken for. He said the current ammunition shortage followed the increase in gun sales. While the current shortage includes cartridges for popular semiautomatic rifles and pistols that were covered by the Clinton-era weapons ban, it also extends to other common varieties including common revolver cartridges and .22 rimfire cartridges used for hunting or target shooting. In Wyoming, the run on bullets and reloading components reached such a frenzy that Cheyenne retailer Frontier Arms recently began rationing sales, said Becky Holtz, co-owner of the shop. Holtz said she's also been selling semiautomatic rifles as fast as she can put them on the shelves. "You know there's something wrong when I've got little old ladies coming in buying 5,000 rounds of .22 shells," Holtz said. Jere Jordan is general manager Midsouth Shooters Supply in Clarksville, Tenn. — one of a handful of firms in the country that specializes in mail-order sales of ammunition and reloading components and equipment. In common with similar supply houses, Midsouth has run out of most ammunition in the calibers commonly used in semiautomatic pistols and popular military rifles. It's also backordered on many other types of cartridges. "After the election, where you have a change of parties to a more liberal side, I would say I guess the conservatives want to protect what they feel might be taken away from them, either through a tax, or an all-out ban," Jordan said. Midsouth and other similar dealers say they're also sold out of most varieties of primers used by hobbyists to handload cartridges. Primers are the explosive caps that ignite gunpowder in rifle and pistol cartridges. Jordan said his company is taking orders for bullets and primers, but isn't sure when they'll be filled. "The wait? We're not even guessing on the wait anymore," Jordan said. "It's exceeding 60 days." Keane, of the Shooting Sports Foundation, said there are no national statistics that directly track firearms sales. However, he noted that there's been a sharp rise in the number of instant background checks that the FBI performs each time a person buys a gun at a gun store. Such checks are not required for personal sales, or for gun purchases at gun shows. The FBI performed more than 4.2 million firearms background checks from November 2008 through this January, according to agency figures. That's an increase of more than 31 percent above the 3.2 million checks the agency performed from November 2007 through January 2008. Keane said concerns other than the prospect of new federal regulations are also driving gun and ammunition sales. Those include the faltering economy and the potential side-effect of an increase in crime, he said. "There's a concern about what's happening to the stock market, what's happening with unemployment, what's happening with the tremendous increase in government spending, whether there will be hyperinflation," Keane said.
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#1. To: Brian S. shooters here (#0)
Just a feeling, but I bet they'll come at us via our homeowners insurance. I think we'll begin to see questions about stored ammunition when they renew our policies.
Good grief - I never even thought of that possibility...that will be the day that I either lie, or become self-insured.
Unlike black powder, modern centerfire and rimfire ammo present no special storage problems in small quantities. And, as far as I know no municipal fire codes regulate its storage at home. (I won't include NYC because, well, you know why....) Black powder (which is classified as an explosive instead a propellant) is another puppy of a different color. The recommended method of storage for BP (and the author was probably picturing a 1 lb can when he scribbled this) is in a strong metal wall cabinet with a soft top that will vent energy upwards in the event of fire or static spark detonation. I suppose that BP is a potential source of political attack except that politicians don't really fear militiamen armed with colonial era flintlocks, caplocks, firelocks, etc.,. But in the future even "sporting quantities" of BP and methods of storage could be over regulated by various levels of govt because of its potential for abuse. (Especially if a bunch of BP pipe bombs start popping and making the royals nervous) ________________ This link explains a lot and makes the distinction between commercial storage and handling of BP and other explosives. In the absence of some terrible tragedy insurance companies would be hard pressed to justify rate increases for homeowners who keep small amounts of ammo and components. Because these companies live and die by actuaries they'd only succeed in driving customers to their competition if they try to penalize us for political reasons. Grain elevator explosions and cargo ships laden with fertilizer (remember the Texas City disaster?) are the proof of what can go wrong with a real potential hazard, and statistically the storage of small arms ammo and components just doesn't rate. (I'd pocket a cylinder full of .44 mags but I wouldn't dare drop a blasting cap in there near the old wedding tackle) I'd expect politicians to simply ban possession, using phrases such as "increase in terrorist activities....blah blah blah.....Ron Paul and Chuck Whatzisname rallies, etc.,." rather than a backdoor poopchute attack through our homeowners insurance. _______________________ Here are official regulations regarding black powder, ordnance, and explosives. US Government list of manuals - Federal Explosives Law and Regulations State Laws and Published Ordnances Black Powder Exemptions: http://www.info-central.org/regulatory/orangebook/subparth.html (The manual online above is from 1982 but it says the same in the 09/2000 edition.) b) Black powder. Except for the provisions applicable to persons required to be licensed under subpart D, this part does not apply with respect to commercially manufactured black powder in quantities not to exceed 50 pounds, percussion caps, safety and pyrotechnic fuses, quills, quick and slow matches, and friction primers, if the black powder is intended to be used solely for sporting, recreational, or cultural purposes in antique firearms, as defined in 18 U.S.C. 921 (a)(1 6) or antique devices, as exempted from the term "destructive devices" in 18 U.S.C. 921(a)(4). It should be noted that most Civil War artillery is field artillery and contains far less than 1 to 3 pounds of black power. It should also be noted that more than half of all artillery is solid in nature (i.e. never contained any powder but was used as a battering ram) or possessed a wood fuse adapter which over the years of being in the ground has subjected the shell's powder charge to moisture and contaminates.
Good points 'dawg. The bottom line is THEY can't allow the sheeple unlimited storage. It would encourage freedom.
It would be great if people rise up and say, "If you mean to have a war then let it begin here!", but, I'm afraid to get my hopes up. I mean, if the govt tried to ban beer, Hooters and Monday Night Football then sure. But, if Ruby Ridge, Waco, New Orleans and other deadly govt excesses didn't fire people up, then it just seems to me that unless one's personal ox is gored (My son was arrested? Oh, it was my son-in-law? No need for alarm then....) We The Barcalounger Tubers just ain't going to risk any serious discomfort, the type that our govt loves to hand out with its law and order.
If you purchase more than four firearms in a month, a friendly cop or BATF agent will appear on your doorstep. mirage must now wait two more weeks lest he get a visit regarding his purchasing habits.
Recession is when your neighbor loses his job. Atlas is now shrugging. Given that I come from four generations of lawyers, I have my own plans in mind for them :)
Recession is when your neighbor loses his job. Atlas is now shrugging. Guess it depends on where you purchase them.
How much are grenades?
I knew you did ! ;-)
Five to ten, last I heard.
Recession is when your neighbor loses his job. Atlas is now shrugging. How do you know anything? All you do is play on the Internet all day. This means you have little to do in the real life of America or your own personal and professional life within business or at home. I pity you.
Five to ten, last I heard. That's a good one. I was just joking around anyway.
Nice to meet you grace.
I pity you. That is a rather uninformed post to make. Read much more about the members, before rolling out such drivel. Thank you.
The pleasure is all mine, I assure you about that minor, little insignificant factoid.
Time after time, I read the comments here on Freedom4um only to find Rotara playing around as a rooster in a hen house. It is sickening to me. I voiced my courtesy opinion, that's all. No threats and no personal indignation were inferred. Back off.
I don't think it is uninformed. The guy is on here 16/7
You're welcome. Alas, people with badges have no sense of humor.
Recession is when your neighbor loses his job. Atlas is now shrugging.BLOAT bump
#2. To: lodwick (#1)
#3. To: Jethro Tull. shooters here (#2)
Just a feeling, but I bet they'll come at us via our homeowners insurance. I think we'll begin to see questions about stored ammunition when they renew our policies.
#4. To: Jethro Tull (#2)
Just a feeling, but I bet they'll come at us via our homeowners insurance. I think we'll begin to see questions about stored ammunition when they renew our policies.
#5. To: HOUNDDAWG (#4)
#6. To: Jethro Tull (#5)
(Edited)
The bottom line is THEY can't allow the sheeple unlimited storage. It would encourage freedom.
#7. To: Jethro Tull (#5)
Depression is when you lose your job.
Recovery is when Obama loses his job.
#8. To: mirage (#7)
always have freshly baked cookies and some milk !
"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.”—Samuel Adams 
#9. To: Rotara (#8)
always have freshly baked cookies and some milk !
Depression is when you lose your job.
Recovery is when Obama loses his job.
#10. To: mirage (#7)
If you purchase more than four firearms in a month, a friendly cop or BATF agent will appear on your doorstep.
#11. To: mirage (#7)
#12. To: mirage (#9)
eheheee
"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.”—Samuel Adams
#13. To: Old Friend (#11)
How much are grenades?
Depression is when you lose your job.
Recovery is when Obama loses his job.
#14. To: Rotara (#12)
I knew you did !
#15. To: mirage (#13)
How much are grenades?
#16. To: grace_is_by_our_lord (#14)
#17. To: grace_is_by_our_lord (#14)
This means you have little to do in the real life of America or your own personal and professional life within business or at home.
#18. To: Old Friend (#16)
#19. To: lodwick (#17)
#20. To: lodwick (#17)
That is a rather uninformed post to make.
#21. To: Old Friend (#15)
That's a good one. I was just joking around anyway.
Depression is when you lose your job.
Recovery is when Obama loses his job.
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