U.S. Government’s ammo grab puts a pinch on local sales

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by Katie Gauthier

Story Created: Mar 13, 2013 at 10:58 PM CDT

Story Updated: Mar 13, 2013 at 11:25 PM CDT

The Department of Homeland Security reportedly wants to buy more than 1.6 billion rounds of ammunition in the next 4 or 5 years.

They say it's necessary for law enforcement agents in training and on duty.

Like a bullet out of a gun. That's how fast ammunition is flying off the shelves of local shops.

"They say why can't I get any ammo? You go through, because I can't get any because you keep buying it all, haha, is usually what I say," said Tim Shriver, Manager, Deer Crossing Sales.

Tim Shriver owner of Deer Crossing Sales in Hastings says he's feeling the burn.

"It affects me a lot because I'm down to about a third of my inventory, where I usually stock. If I can't get it in to sell it, it hurts me financially," said Shriver.

"I've got several large wholesalers I go through and you know they may give me, instead of a case of 20 nine millimeter, two boxes. Two boxes don't go very far when you've got a lot of customers," said Shriver.

Gun shops across the area are running low on ammo.

"I mean it's a real problem," said Bill Starkey, Superintendent, HPSP.

This after a spike in gun sales in the recent months. So what's causing the holdup on fuel for firearms?

"People are concerned about losing their right to own a firearm," said Starkey.

Part of that could be Homeland Security stocking up.

"It's taking me a month for me to get my order from the wholesale," said Shriver.

Manufacturers are having trouble filling orders, including Hornaday Manufacturing in Grand Island.

In fact, when you call their message says, "call volume, order volume and demand for product has increased dramatically."

It's a vicious cycle that many are feeling.

"We are definitely seeing a decrease in the number of shooters that come out," said Starkey.

The Heartland Public Shooting Park is expecting this trend to continue this spring and summer.

"You'll find people with several thousand rounds in storage and then you'll find people who need it that don't have any rounds and so it creates a bad situation for shooting sports and recreational shooting," said Starkey.

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