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Ammunition in short supply

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By CARL ORTH

The Suncoast News

Published: October 25, 2009

HUDSON - The Second Amendment guarantees the right to bear arms. It doesn't, however, explicitly say anything about bullets to put into those guns.

Ammunition remains scarce for many weapons as prices soar, according to owners of two local gun shops, Mike Jones at Ol' Time Gun Shop in Hudson and Christopher Drum at CRS Weaponry in Port Richey.

"I've been in business 35 years and never seen anything like this," Jones said. Prices have soared perhaps 50 percent the past two years, he said.

If he orders a case of ammunition, Drum said, he's lucky to get one box from the wholesaler or manufacturer. A single box of ammunition can range from $22 to $50 these days. For instance, a box of bullets for a .38 Special might go for $35.

Shortages of bullet raw materials primarily are forcing up ammunition prices, Jones and Drum said. Rounds for some of the most popular pistols, such as .38 Special, .357 Magnum and .45 ACP, sometimes can't be found.

In addition, many gun owners reportedly have been stockpiling ammo since November, when Democrats captured the White House and increased their majorities in both houses of Congress.

"Everybody is still panic buying," Jones remarked. "So many people are getting concealed weapon permits."

"A day doesn't go by someone doesn't walk in here and ask me for a box" of .38 Special bullets or other hard-to-find ammo, Drum said, adding he hasn't seen a box of shells for a .380 semiautomatic "in three weeks."

Shortly after President Barack Obama's election, many handguns and other weapons were in short supply, Drum said.

"Now we can get the guns, we just can't get the ammunition," he said. "The whole market is just awry."

Although he can't get a straight answer as to why, ammo manufacturers have reduced production, Drum said. "They're cutting back. The whole thing is so screwed up."

Rumors about possible taxes or regulations make gun owners even more nervous. Jones said one rumor concerns methods to limit the shelf life of ammo.

Some people insist a proposal in the U.S. Senate could require gun owners to list their weapons on federal tax forms with a tax of $50 per gun. Others dismiss it as a hoax or misinformation spread by a chain e-mail about a bill introduced in 2000 that died in committee.

The Blair Holt's Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act of 2009, however, is real, although it has gone nowhere in the U.S. House shortly after it was introduced in January.

The West Pasco Friends of the NRA is planning a dinner and auction Nov. 7, according to Jones, co-chairman of the group. The event will be at the Rotary Concourse Pavilion, 15323 State Road 52, near Suncoast Parkway.

Tickets are $35 per person. Tickets are available at the Ol' Time Gun Shop, 10038 S.R. 52. For information, call (727) 857-1661 or (727) 857-1937. Send e-mails to pascofnra@gmail.com. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.friendsofnra.org.

Carl Orth can be reached at (727) 815-1068 or corth@suncoastnews.com.

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