Wars Hit Home With Ammunition Shortage for Police Departments

"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."

Before we go any further, let me get this straight...

The officer that practices more with his firearm is less likely to use it.

Okay. Sounds logical. Guns make big noises and stinky smells and kick like the dickens so I guess cops WOULDN'T want to shoot any more than they have to. And since they only hit what they are aiming at approximately 20% of the time, it isn't as if we're talking about marksmen here so why not let them take some time away from the range as it obviously isn't doing a lick of good anyway. Let's continue with this abject bullswaddle:

"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.

The military is in no danger of running out because it gets the overwhelming majority of its ammunition from a dedicated plant outside Kansas City. But police are at the mercy of commercial manufacturers.

None of the departments surveyed by the AP said they had pulled guns off the street, and many departments reported no problems buying ammunition. But others told the AP they face higher prices and months-long delays.

In Oklahoma City, for example, officers cannot qualify with AR-15 rifles because the department does not have enough .223-caliber ammunition - a round similar to that fired by the military's M-16 and M4 rifles. Last fall, an ammunition shortage forced the department to cancel qualification courses for several different guns."

Well isn't it a shame that the munitions WE buy for them are costing a little more but fer chrissake there's not anything CLOSE to a genuine shortage. WWII, now THERE was a shortage. There are NO US munitions factory's, Bubba Clinton closed down the last ones so the cops must purchase from private entities and since WE are getting ripped off its only right that they should as well. Bloody waste of time having them shoot even as much as they do, because it isn't anywhere near enough to become and remain proficient. And they CAN'T get much worse.

And lets stop the BS right here and now; if some PD's are waiting over a year for ammo then they are either looking for some unique stuff or haven't clue-one whom to contact. Me, you, Joe shit the rag man, can pick up the phone and call Cabela's, Midway, Cheaper Than Dirt, and dozens of other businesses and have case after case shipped to us any time we so desire. It has gotten lots more expensive, but then haven't we been complaining about getting ripped off for some time now. And yes, private industry CAN do lots better than the government in MOST areas, but a government owned ammo plant or two or three sure wouldn't hurt. Not that its going to happen because there's plenty of rounds to go around no matter what the AP is bitching about, but our public servants could be first on the list to get the cheaper stuff if they had a plant making it just for them.

Fact: There are more private citizens shooting guns than there are police department shooting guns. And a great many of us shoot far more often than they do. For the life of me I can't understand why they just don't go to rolling their own if it's becoming so much of a hassle to stand in line like real people do.

And as a public service gesture I'll open my ammo vault and even dust off the old SHTF stuff should the Oklahoma PD need some .223. May not be enough for all 400 or so of them to shoot much more than a hundred rounds apiece until someone else chips in but its a start.

And one thing: No more shooting kids in the head while aiming at snakes in trees. Okay?