This past weekend, following up on a comment on a board to which I belong, I took a trip to my local sporting goods store.
For reference, these is a regional chain that carries the typical full scope of exercise and outdoor equipment: all manner of sports, home training, camping, fishing, and clothing.
My curiousity in going was that I had read that ammunition was completely gone in stores. I was curious and wanted to verify the accuracy.
New Home is a state where on the whole, guns are ammunition are relatively straightforward to procure. In the past, shelves were full and racks were loaded with weapons. Ammunition was generally readily available and ready to pick up.
If there were any to pick up.
For all handguns and long guns, there were perhaps 18 boxes of ammunition - total. And they were in rather unusual calibers, not the sort of thing that one usually shoots. Shotgun ammunition was in somewhat better shape - probably at least 30 or more boxes - but in only one of two calibers: 12 gauge and 28 gauge.
In terms of arms themselves, they were also fairly stripped: of the wall behind the counter, about two thirds of the holders for rifles were empty and the remaining holders were split between rifles and shotguns - but no more than maybe a dozen. Handguns under the counter were about the same amount, although like the wall, there were one or two empty sets of counters.
Out of a mild interest, I may check out a couple more outdoor sports stores to see if the results are similar.
If one did not know better, one would think a serious civil disturbance is coming - at least, that is what market seems to be saying on the ground.
Went by our local Academy this weekend to see if ANY .410 was available - nope. About 8 boxes of 28 gauge in various manufacturers, a few boxes of .350 Legend and that was it. No rimfire at all. It is 'All Boughten Up !'.
ReplyDeleteNot sure if Civilization Going On Holiday, but the verdict is certainly ramping things up, especially if acquitting is the verdict.
Keep your head on a swivel and nose in the wind.
Anonymous, any wise businessperson would tell you that the market will inform you where the world is going. And at least now, the market is giving some very clear indicators indeed.
DeleteI will be wise. Fair winds and untroubled seas to you as well - but always be prepared to repel boarders.
Did you notice the price of the ammo they did have? Our local hardware sells firearms and ammunition; their current prices are insane.
ReplyDeleteSBRgirl - I did not check the prices (should have), but other information I have seen online supports your assertion that prices are, well, reflective of scarcity.
DeleteI have a friend, who lets just say is an avid gun enthusiast with several hundred in his collection, and we've talked on this subject several times. This is a fairly common occurrence every time a rash of mass shootings happens and talk of restrictive gun laws. I'm not worried but then again, if I used all my ammo reserves in the name of self defense, I either deserved to die for my poor aim or my house would be buried in bodies.
ReplyDeleteEd - Agreed that this is a common sort of reaction. I may be wrong in remembering that this seems more widespread than before, but that could just be a failure on my memory.
DeleteI think in the event of an actual sort of "event", there would be both complete ammunition exhaustion and mounds of bodies scattered about.
I went into a gun shop a while back to sign a petition to recall our nanny... er... "governor." This was a GUN shop; not a sporting goods store. The guy had no inventory at all, guns or ammo, save for one used shotgun that looked as if it had rolled around in the bed of a pickup for a few years. Indeed, the nanny has made even purchasing AMMO so difficult, requiring background checks for EVERY PURCHASE, many places that used to carry it won't anymore. This is what the Left wants for the entire country!
ReplyDeleteAs for potential riots... er... "peaceful protests..." They might want to steer clear of my place... ...I've had enough...
Pete - I am familiar with your state and its rather...ummm...insane methodology about ammunition (yet somehow, the bad guys always get the ammunition). And yes, I can understand somewhere like there that things would be even more ridiculous at this point.
DeleteOne would point out that civilization, as such, has worked in the "protestors" favor. At some point it will not.
Prudent planners solved this issue over a decade ago.
ReplyDeleteNew planners are up against the wall.
Chinese Proverb – The Best Time To Plant A Tree Was 20 Years Ago, The Second Best Time Is Now.
I would hate to be in the "now" on this.
Same here...
DeleteHmm. Agreed Just So. At the same time, there is never not a "good time" to continue to build stocks of any needed item.
DeleteBut yes, if starting today, it would be difficult.
When I was reading your post, I was wondering why this (ammunition shortage) would be the case, and then I read the comments. And yet ... other than Biden’s benign and mostly meaningless executive orders, things remain as they were.
ReplyDeleteI think Biden is being careful to not use all of his political capital all at once. If I were a betting man, I would expect this issue gets brought up again closer to midterms as a referendum of sorts.
DeleteBob, I think the fact is that even though the executive orders are fairly meaningless, the opinion of the current administration is fairly obvious. Folks are just trying to beat the rush, or even put their money (in the event of inflation, which seems to be a thing now) into something that would hold value.
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