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Running Out of Guns and Ammunition
Gun sales are through the roof. And so is the sale of ammunition. With the violence that has broken out across the country, Americans are making use of their Second Amendment rights. Many of us feel that we can no longer trust our legislators to protect 
us, as they tie the hands of law enforcement and regularly denigrate police departments.
The immediate problem is that the gun retailers are running out of products. Gun sales have been on the rise since 2,000, but they have increased significantly in the past year:
Americans sure are buying guns right now. June 2020 just recorded the highest number of background checks called into the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) of any June in the history of the database.
This is a 135% increase from June 2019, according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s (NSSF) adjusted NICS figures (basically, the NSSF takes the FBI’s figures and subtracts some checks that are likely unrelated to gun sales). For comparison, the unadjusted June 2020 FBI NICS figure of 3,909,502 background checks shows a 70.6% increase from the unadjusted FBI NICS figure of 2,291,066 in June 2019.
Brandon Wexler, a gun shop owner in Delray Beach, FL made this observation :
‘Pretty much everything is out of stock,’ he said. ‘We have been doing it since the late 70’s and have never seen literally no supply available. As of last week, at all major distributors you could not get any guns. Everything was literally sold out. Can’t even get hearing protection.’
Ammunition is also in short supply. Manufacturers can’t keep up with the demand, especially for the most popular ammunition such as 9mm. We are considering taking a concealed carry self-defense class. My husband, who orders our ammunition online, says that everyone is reporting shortages. Our local gun store is also having difficulty keeping weapons and ammunition in stock.
So, what does all this mean? The chances are good that eventually, the manufacturers will catch up in production. But how long will that take, since gun and ammunition sales continue to rise? I’m also wondering about all the people who are buying guns and are also applying for their concealed carry permits. Will they make sure that they get the proper training? Will they practice regularly so that they can properly handle their guns? I understand that the Second Amendment doesn’t have those requirements for gun ownership and it shouldn’t, but as people gradually emerge from their lockdowns, will they realize the huge responsibility they have for carrying their guns safely? Will their anxiety levels be elevated and compromise their appropriate use of their guns?
We may have more to worry about than the bad guys.
Published in Guns
The answer is “no”, “no”, “maybe”, and “yes”. That is the price we are paying for losing a “gun culture” in this country. The media often swears at a “gun culture” as if it were gang bangers writ large. But a real “gun culture” is where a gun(s) is seen as part of a household toolkit just like all the other tools to be mastered and cared for.
It was never part of our toolkit (although my husband used guns before we married). But at least I respect the power, danger and appropriateness of gun safety and use. That, I suspect, will be much more than many people will realize. As you so state. Thanks, @rodin.
And like toilet paper this past February, when there is high demand, shortages appear. Our family has been well-stocked for ages, so we’ll be one of the last familes to run out of guns or ammo . . .
We’re well-stocked for regular practice and usage, but a concealed carry course requires a lot of ammo. If we continue our regular shooting routine, we probably won’t have enough. And the trainer (who is highly regarded) is also short of ammo.
My friend Tamara is spot-on here. The gun-buying panic is different this time than it was in 2008, or after Newtown.
Exhibit B (which she mentions ) is the insane prices on tactical shotguns recently, or shotguns of any kind. 12 gauge ammo of any sort is hard to find right now. Even birdshot is getting tough to find, and I don’t think that’s because millions of people decided to take up duck hunting these last few months.
The good news is, that means there millions of new gun owners who (finally) connected the dots between their need for self-defense and the .govs ability to provide that self defense. Let’s make sure we welcome them into American gun culture, and make sure they understand their new-found ability to protect what is important to them can be taken away with the stroke of a politician’s pen.
I buy both self-defense rounds and bulk ball ammo. I use the bulk ball ammo for general practice because it’s cheaper, but I practice some with the self-defense rounds because they feel a little different when shooting.
Let’s make sure that “gun culture” does not mean “gun nut” for our new owners. The left prefers the latter term because they want to cast aspersions on gun ownership as being something only a lunatic would enjoy. To me, “gun culture” should be taught as an appreciation for the right to own and use a gun, the instillment of gun safety when handling a gun, and the sheer pleasure of shooting – whether it’s at targets, simple plinking at cans (what we did this past 4th of July), or hunting.
Well my son came to Wilmington to take the concealed carry course as the earliest he could take it in the Triangle area was August. When he got home he was told by the Durham County Sheriff that the earliest he could get his request processed was November. Reminded me of how in Illinois in order to get a FOID ( firearms owner ID) which you must have to own a gun in the Peoples Republic, the state had exactly 2 state troopers processing all the requests. Took my BIL over a year to get his.
I have offered free NRA training to LGBT groups, and recently did a no-charge Refuse to be a Victim seminar sponsored by the diversity group at my work. I have also offered some very basic training to any first time gun buyers through a couple of local gun stores, at no charge. It has consisted mostly of some very good conversations and laser practice sessions.
The Constitution gives all of the right to own firearms. An important part of being a responsible firearms owner, and therefore a responsible citizen, is training. That’s why I became an instructor. There are more and more things I can’t do, as I get older, but I can do this. If a new gun owner is willing to listen to an old gun guy, maybe I can do some good.
I also reload practice ammo for friends. According to the law, I can reload your brass and accept reimbursement for the cost of primers, powder and bullets. I can’t sell you my handloads unless I get a manufacturers’ license and charge you excise tax, but I can reload your brass. I will gladly reload any brass you send me to keep you supplied with practice ammo, and let you keep the factory ammo for carry (I don’t approve of handloads for carry, just practice). Drop me a note if I can help you. I love reloading as much as I love shooting, and I get to do it in an air-conditioned shop.
That’s ridiculous, @kozak, and clearly meant to discourage people. BTW, I took the training to get my permit; now I just want instruction so that I’m more prepared to use it situationally. The instructor assures us there won’t be any “rolling on the ground” requirements!
Very interesting, @douglaspratt. Isn’t that every time consuming? BTW, thank you for your generosity in training others!
Yeah. Imagine being forced to wait months to exercise any other constitutional right…..
I’m certain we’re going to see a significant rise in accidental shootings in the coming months, as people who’ve no idea what they’re doing attempt to operate very dangerous equipment. In any event, take it from a good source that ammo supplies are scarcer than they’ve ever been before. Finding double-aught in particular is about as fruitful as looking for El Dorado in your backyard. Deer hunting cartridges are still in somewhat healthy supply, at least.
Well stocked here with guns, ammo, TP and hard likker!
Good job! You’re ready for anything, @justmeinaz!
I had trouble finding an AR9 bolt carrier group.
Even a “shall issue” state will find ways to inhibit the Second Amendment. The NRA legal branch should look into this for a test case . . .
My hero! Man-crush . . .
But seriously, welcoming people from all walks of life into the ranks of responsible gun owners is a great thing, especially groups vulnerable to being attacked for who they are or what they believe in. Kudos to you!
Yes. I understand the desire to keeps guns out of “untrained” hands, but there is no such thing as “unnecessary” hands. That is the fallacy that has been laid bare in the time of COVID-19 and SJW riots.
It would be like reporters having to wait for government review prior before getting the green light to publish.
(I offer my apologies to “Lights of Other Color” for not being inclusive.)
I’m certain you’re right, just from a statistical standpoint. Sometimes my efforts as an instructor feel like opening an umbrella in the face of a tsunami, but I will still make the gesture.
I didn’t realize that the shortages extended to rounds beyond 9mm, 380 ACP and 223 Rem/550 NATO. I’m mostly a pistolero, the one carbine I shoot a lot is chambered in 9mm and shares magazines with my Beretta 92. I’ve loaded lots of rifle rounds for friends. I inherited a beautiful handmade 30-06 that my uncle made, and I shoot it occasionally, mostly for the pleasure of cleaning it afterward.
It just seemed like the thing to do. When my son and I were first certified to teach NRA Basic Pistol, 10 years ago in Virginia, we had students of every description from all walks of life. Brian was an excellent instructor, even allowing for the proud parent prejudice. When his job took him to the West Coast and mine gave me the chance to move to my hometown in New York, instructing took a back seat. For one thing, in order for me to get my arsenal legally into New York State I had to be a resident for two years, apply for a pistol permit, wait six months for it to come through, and have each handgun shipped from storage in VA to an FFL in New York. My local gun store was very good about giving me a bulk discount on transfer fees. I’m still not doing Basic Pistol, since I can’t even let you pick up one of my guns unless you have a permit, but I got certified to teach some other NRA classes that are more useful for our circumstances. Refuse to be a Victim is an excellent class, and I have been sponsored by a local church to teach it.
@susanquinn
Susan, off topic, I know, but to me the large spike in new gun owners, like the Goya buycott are signalling… something but I don’t quite know what. A significant but unarticulated shift in public mood? Like the tremblors which often presage a volcanic eruption?
I do fear that a Trump 2020 victory will drive an already emboldened left absolutely insane. Perhaps others are sensing this as well, and a gun provides a measure of security, particularly in areas where the police are standing down.
It would be really interesting to see where gun sales are spiking. Especially if it’s happening in blue counties.
PS. At Academy, which is a major supplier of guns in the Houston area, virtually every popular handgun is out of stock.
I don’t know if the data is there, but it sure would be good to know!
AUDad reloads all our ammo. He shoots once a week. I have been a couple of times this year.
He enjoys the reloading or it wouldn’t make much sense.
Lynda and I went to our usual range today (Bud’s) and found a notice on the door that we had to wear a mask to enter. We left. I’m sorry for Bud’s (it’s a county executive order), but I’m not going to wear a mask while I’m trying to shoot.
That’s a win win for the Progressive Left.
Shut down the ability of newer gun owners to train and get a legal carry, disrupt their ability to buy ammunition and train.
Increase in accidental shootings, pushing gun control agenda because of #1 above.
Not sure what glitch in posting happened to Stad , but I did not make that statement…..
I can’t imagine trying to do that either, @randywebster! And I don’t imagine they’ll ask, either. Too bad.
No, it was Douglas Pratt.