What's up with the ammo shortage?

[mgwin]

OK, if the government needs all that ammo to shoot us with, are they buying up all the powder and bullets too? There is none of that to be found either. Who in the heck is gonna load up all the bullets for them?

 

[mhomrighausen]

Jeremiah C. I agree that it must be your computer.

Marty G. I highly doubt that the government is going shoot all of us. Perhaps we should be asking our elected officials to find out and give us an answer. Once Again CLICK HERE

And if they do come and shoot us.... It's been awhile since I've heard this one.

Y'all have a great day!!!

 

[mhomrighausen]

And so I go off to work today and contemplate the, "What if I took some time and looked into this ammo shortage thingymabob and came with... CLICK HERE.


So... I guess if someone actually takes time to add up basic common sense and put it on something besides Charmin.... Okay do the math.... The Federal Government announces that it is going to bulk purchase (to get the best price and who hasn't done that at some time or another).... People hear that and then some radio or TV personality opens their yapper (pie hole) and says, "It's a conspiracy....". ... Now SWEET!!! All you need is for one person to tell another and that person tells another and soon the whole freaking story is taken out of context... Gee... Has anyone other than myself have someone do that with something that they've said? You know... Have what YOU said taken completely out of context and the next thing you know everything blows sky high.

Anyway.... where was I besides diving into shark infested Kool Aid which by the way is raspberry flavored (I like raspberry Kool Aid). OKay, I remember... The Feds announce a huge purchase of ammunition and talk goes crazy and the next thing we know is everyone is going out and buyinng all the ammnunition they can get plus. Gee Willickers.... The next thing we have is a huge SHORTAGE of ammunition and it is ALL the governments fault. And of course none of us are to blame for panicking and buying all we can get our hands on thus helping to create the shortage. Reminds me of when Cabbage Patch Dolls first hit the market....

And then today at work I heard ... Another Great Oldie.

 

[aschumacher]

Marlin, I hear what your saying, but if that amount of ammo is for the 'home front', how much are we using in the war theatres ! ? ?

 

[jchamberlin]

Marlin: Once more, I can't play the video, but I could read the lyrics. I was especially struck by the line, "I see friends shaking hands saying 'How do you do,' what they are really saying is, "I love you" Yes, it really is a wonderful world, when we step back to see the big picture. Thanks for sharing.

 

[mhomrighausen]

Jeremiah C. I think that your Adobe Flashplayer needs to be updated to be able to hear and see those videos.

Allen S. I haven't taken time to look that up yet. Just figure that the money from our once privately funded Social Security that was put into the General Fund by former President Lyndon B. Johnson to help fund the Vietnam War and every president since has borrowed from it (without paying back one penny) is paying for that ammunition.

I was "cursed" at a very young age with having parents that subscribed to at one time four daily and Sunday papers from throughout the state and two different county newspapers. Over I'm guessing here around twenty monthly magazines from Life, LOOK, National Geographic, etc. to several Farming Magazines. My Mom studied to be a lawyer before settling down to be a farm wife and keep her brother from getting ALL the farmland. My Dad also liked to read. They taught us kids to look at the whole picture and also have a sense of humor. And yes, I've owned a Dasiy 1994 Model BB gun and a cool lever action Winchester as well as that cheap plastic stock Rifleman's gun. Now... I KNOW what guns (and other things) can and will do in the hands of the wrong people... Guns no longer fascinate me. Now a 1948 Black Buick two Door Super Sedanette with three on the tree... YES!!!

 

[tcbusch]

Here's a couple of tidbits of information to think about.

Last fall several thousand people thought that they should buy a gun. I work at a company of roughly 100 people at the local office. 35 of the 100 or so people decided to take a carry coarse this last winter, and I can assume they most likely bought ammo shortly there after.

Many people I've talked to had only a hundred rounds or so laying around before last fall. After so many people decided to buy ammo the shelves started getting a little bare. This caused everyone else to think, including me, "I need to stock up so I am not affected by this fluctuation in ammo inventory."

If I had an opportunity to buy a couple thousand rounds of ammo at last years prices today I probably would to "get me by", and the interesting thing is I don't shoot all that much.

I do business with one of the major ammo manufactures. I was visiting them the other day and asked them what was up. Basically it comes down to simple supply and demand. In today's world inventory is a liability. Everyone in the supply chain tries to minimize their inventory. They had been running 24 hours 7 days a week for years. The machines that make the ammo are 50 to 60 yeas old and no one makes them anymore. If they want to increase production its not as simple as adding a shift of workers. They have to dust off old machines, drag them out of storage, fix them up, and start producing. All of this effort takes time and money. The people I was talking with were convinced this was a bubble. That all this hording was going to create a ammo bubble that would eventually burst. If they spend thousands of dollars to increase production and the bubble bursts they might not be too happy. So for now they are slowly putting old machines back in service and they are keeping their eye on the demand.

So a whole bunch of new ammo customers suddenly wanted to buy the product and the manufactures have been leaning out their operations without an ability to quickly increase production.

Classic supply and demand issue.

or maybe its the man trying to bring us down????

 

[mhomrighausen]

You're right Terry about the supply and demand thing. Everybody always looks for someone or something to put the blame onto and never want to put themselves as part of the blame.I can't wait for this "Ammo Shortage" to become liner in the bottom of a parakeet's cage.... or in this case>>>...

Yesterday's Paper

"Excuse me but,
is that paper today's?"
I looked up, saw her face and
"Y-Yes.", was all I could say.

She said, "Look at the headlines.
Isn't that a shame?
We can point at others
and deny we're also to blame."

Taking a chair beside me:
after awhile we began to chat.
We talked about a lot of things
and even Sassy her cat.

"I like my world current."
she continued, "Especially the news,
Ann Landers, fashions,
and editorial views."

Soon we were dating
and the world was our stage.
I was the headlines
on her paper's front page.

One day she said, "People see bad news
and forget somewhere the sun shines."
It was then I should have begun
to read between the lines.

Things change, events happen
and few things ever last.
One day she called and said, "I'm sorry...
but, now you are part of my past."

A heart will forever memories cherish
and in time sweet voices will taper.
And there's no good news when you're
the headlines on yesterday's paper.

<font size="-1">copyright 1999-2013
Marlin Homrighausen</font>

 

[fcurrier]

Marlin's a poet
He don't know it
But his feet show it
They're Longfellows

 

[cmcleod]

reading along with the latest, you know, doesn't it seem logical that it is supply and demand??? when you start poking around, its amazing the true facts that DO come out, when the consumers start buying up, thinking that ' somethung' is gonna happen, that results in shortages. I do believe this has happened before, hasn't it? Usually after a mass shooting those who have guns or think they then need them, run out and get em and ammo . As with the shooting in Newtown, that laid everything wide open again and the fear that the governement was going to ban weapons, take weaspons away that resulted in everyone going on a buying frenzy. THAT and the government doing their NORMAL purchasing. If anyone is reading along, it sounds to me like there isn't going to be a whole lot of anything done about banning weapons or ammo at this point. just my two cents worth, and I know, as a woman, I dont know anything,

right? lmao.. seems like background checks may be the only thing that comes from the latest tragedy. How do keep guys away from mentally ill people?

I haven't a clue

cathleen

 

[mgwin]

I don't know for sure why all the ammo is scarce, but I do know NO ONE around here has any for sale. NO ONE on the internet has any.
I called a wholesale distributor in Pennsylvania and they said they haven't sold any ammo in months, and can't get any. Everyone else has told me the same thing.
Walmart has stopped selling handgun ammo because they said they cannot get it any more. I visited all the gun shops in my county, and they all say the same thing; they cannot get any ammo.
I went in a gun shop in southwest Va. and they told me they cannot get ANY ammo or handguns. They had one used pistol in their large display case, and were asking around 800 bucks for it.
If everyone is buying up all the ammo, I don't know where they are. NO ONE I have talked to is buying any.
As far as needing a gun; If anyone lives in an area where they don't need a gun, you are VERY fortunate!!
On the news where I live (north of Greensboro, NC) There is a shooting almost every day. In the past month, there have been at least 30 break-ins in a 20 mile radius. Two of which happened within a mile of my house. One was within a stone's throw from here.
There have been several burglaries in my county where the scum went into homes during the day and took the whole gun safe. They do not just go to one home, they hit from 12 to 15 in one day!
I'd say I qualify for someone who needs a gun!
I worked hard to get what I have, and NOBODY is gonna just come and take it from me if I can help it. If someone tries to break into my home I will have less ammo than I have now.

 

[mgwin]

P.S.
I wish I could take every gun from every criminal and beat the crap out of them.
I wish I could take all the drugs (even though there is a total ban on drugs) from all the sellers and beat the crap out of them too.
We all know that is not going to happen (remove all the guns and/or drugs) no matter what kind of laws are passed.
I don't mean to offend anyone, or hurt anyone's feelings, I am just stating the facts.
I treat EVERYONE equal until they start doing something they shouldn't.

 

[kostendorf]

I agree with you Marty, I know I'm lucky to live in the woods with 30 acres between me and the road. We have a plan with our neighbors if something happens to block the only way out and call police which may take a while to show up. Us country folk have plenty a shotguns.

 

[tcbusch]

Take a look at the Federal Premium FAQ. If you believe what they are saying then its public hoarding at the worst, or supply and demand at best. If you don't then it's the "man trying to bring us down"

http://www.federalpremium.com/company/faq.aspx

I copied the text from the FAQ below to future proof this post.

We are currently experiencing high demand for our products. We appreciate your patience and support and remain committed to serving all of our customers, from hunters and sport shooters to those who protect our country and our streets.

WHY IS AMMUNITION IN CERTAIN CALIBERS SO HARD TO FIND?

The current market and environment is causing stronger than usual demand for products in our industry.

WHY ARE YOU SELLING ALL OF YOUR AMMUNITION TO THE DHS?

The Department of Homeland Security contract makes up a very small percentage of our total ammunition output. This contract is not taking ammunition away from civilians. The current increase in demand is attributed to the civilian market. Our production volumes on government contracts have been stable since the mid-2000s.

ARE CERTAIN CONTRACTS TAKING AMMUNITION AWAY FROM CIVILIANS?

No. We remain committed to serving all channels of our business. The majority of our product serves the commercial market.

WHY CAN'T YOU JUST MAKE MORE AMMUNITION?

Our facilities operate 24-hours a day. We are continually making process improvements to increase our efficiency and investing in capital and personnel where we have sustained demand. We are bringing additional capacity online again this year.

 

[mhomrighausen]

And once again we've come full circle.... Full Circle ... "Paranoia Strikes deep. Into your life it will creep... Starts when you're always afraid...."

Perhaps... just maybe and once again perhaps... IF those who themselves right now have enough ammunition to shoot themselves and their neighbors a hundred times over would stop trying or buying for just one stupid week... I wonder what the results would be? Sorta like when they quit making Hostess Twinkies.....

Interesting Fact

Ya all have a wonderful day.

 

[mgwin]

I agree, Marlin.
One time Gander Mountain had a sale on ammo which ran for three days. I received the sale paper the evening of the first day. I called the next day from work around lunch time and they told me that around 15 people came in as soon as they opened the previous morning and bought them out.
My guess is these 15 were dealers which bought up the whole lot, took the ammo back to their shop and doubled the price for resale.
Here's another scenario where I would like to take this kind of dealer's ammo away from him and beat the crap out of him too!
The average law abiding citizen who has to work like me just don't have a chance at any ammo.
P.S. I've got enough ammo to get by on (around 200 rounds for each caliber) for my 9mm,357,380,44Mag, but I would like to have a little more.

 

[mhomrighausen]

Marty G. You've really nailed things with the dealers buying and doubling their money. And I don't mean to start any debate of any sorts however with this actually known fact that gang members that are sentenced to life in prison and yet still have influence on the outside world through "connections".... Well, maybe just maybe it really is time to rethink a "different kind of penalty" other than life in prison where for them it still is business as usual even though they are incarcerated. Start sending a very strong message to any criminal caught using a gun of any sorts in a crime is a start on controlling things.

 

[mgwin]

Marlin,

I know it will never happen, but if the noose and gallows were reintroduced, a lot of this crap would stop real quick!
There is no real punishment any more. Prison is like a motel with a nice gym attached to it. I've seen photos of some prisons, and they look like a fancy shopping mall.

 

[jchamberlin]

Marty, You're forgetting that prisons, whatever accouterments they may have, still are effective in denying the one thing for which the human spirit consistently yearns --freedom. They tell me that when the doors clang shut behind you, something happens in your gut. The "penitentiary" was conceived by the Quakers originally as a place for sinners to change their souls, when it works, it works well; but it is HELL getting most inmates from where they are as individuals to where they need to be as members of society.

Personally, I've always respected Gary Gilmore for electing the death penalty. In my mind, he preserved his honor --a life for a life. Even though he could never make atonement, at least he did what he could. I would like to think I could do the same.

As Shakespeare wrote in Hamlet (I forget the character), "Conscience doth make cowards of us all" --or at least most of us. I suppose that is why it is so hard to get a conviction on a death penalty charge; everyone considers, as the crowd in John 8, "who is without sin" enough to throw the first stone.

It is true that in olden days, the public gathered to watch the hanging, the burning at the stake, the body being drawn-and-quartered (so as to confound the afterlife of the individual, as when Jesse James was buried face down), I suspect the effect upon the crowd was not unlike the reaction to the death of Saddam Hussein --cathartic for those in attendance, who gathered and left feeling that justice was done.

Those justified, however, appear to me like the hypcrite who cried out, "Thank God I am not a sinner like him" referring to the penitent who beat his breast asking God's forgiveness.

For me, the reason we feel we need guns and ammo to protect us from others does NOT do much to recommend our species. I wish we could find a way, as William James put it, to make peace with the same moral force as we wage war. The trouble is, if we take that course of action, we would have to admit to our mistakes, and no one wants to do that!

Getting off my soapbox pulpit now. If this post survives the censor, I do want to say that the opinions posted here do cause me to ruminate on the great topics that should concern our hearts and minds, even as we piddle around on old tractors.

I hope everyone has a good day tomorrow, I'm going to bed after two 16 hour days in a row and another one tomorrow.

 

[mhomrighausen]

So many times in the past someone tried to make peace.... Only Fiction.

And then we have a Real Life Scenario ....

and Life Continues As Usual