Listen..can we talk?
There's a well-known comedienne who used to say that, and it was funny, but what I want to talk about is no laughing matter.
I came across an article today which really hit home, because of something that happened yesterday, while my husband and I were out shopping.
We had stopped by Gander Mountain to pick up a few things, and while we were there at the counter with several others making purchases, another customer walked up, and laughingly said, "Yeah, you better get what you can now, while you can still get it."
Others, smiled, and nodded in agreement, and the comment was made that it wouldn't be long until you'd have to be giving up what you had managed to get. Another asked if he had started stock-piling food, yet, and the reply was, "I'm not letting my family starve, no matter what I have to do."
From there, we went to another store with a Sporting Goods department. We were waiting to check out, and another customer asked the clerk for a certain kind of ammunition, and the clerk said that they were out of it. He asked for another kind, and was told the same thing. He asked for a third kind, and was again told that they were out of it.
He then reached over to take something from what we were waiting to pay for, and my husband told him to put it back, it was his. Not to be deterred, the customer asked for something else, and the clerk practically yelled at him, that he had already told him that they were out of everything. He left, but by then the clerk was riled to the point of ranting.
He said, "These idiots who keep trying to buy up all these guns and ammo! Don't they know that Obama can't do a single thing about preventing people from buying guns? Don't they understand that he can't just take them away from them,either? It's a multi-billion dollar business, and he's not about to do anything to stop that! Looks like they'd wise up, sometimes!"
Well, Mr. Irate Clerk, maybe you should try keeping up on current events, by reading information found in the article that the following excerpt was taken from, and maybe then you might just understand why all 'these idiots' are trying to buy what you're there to sell..when you can get it.
"If you, like thousands of other Americans, have Googled to find out why we are in the middle of a nationwide ammunition shortage, you would have stumbled across this 2007 blog entry.
In it, I corrected a poorly researched Associated Press story by Estes Thompson that claimed the military’s consumption of ammunition was responsible for police ammunition shortages here in the United States. Few things could have been further from the truth, but it seems rather apparent, in retrospect, that the goal of that AP article wasn't to find the truth as much as it was to (falsely) lay blame for the police ammunition shortages at the feet of George W. Bush.
The real fact of the matter is that the military got the bulk of its small arms (pistol, rifle, machine gun) ammunition from one contracted ammunition plant, and that plant wasn’t even running near capacity. The military’s consumption clearly wasn’t to blame, and anecdotal evidence and statements from ammunition manufacturers strongly suggested that police departments themselves caused the 2007 ammunition shortage by purchasing far more ammunition than they had in the past.
But what is causing our current ammunition shortages here in 2009?"
For the rest of the article go here.
It's just unbelievable how many there are out there, refusing to believe, or even willing to listen to the truth. It will be a sad day when they finally have to stand face-to-face with it, though.
Reminds me of something my Big Mama, a very wise woman, used to say:
"Those who won't listen, will have to feel."
25 comments:
Ammunition in my neck of the woods is slim to none...it is worrisome. All vendors are out. Example, I was in a super Walmart not long ago, and all they had was a couple of boxes of 3 in. 00 buck. None, as in nothing. No handgun, no rifle, no shotgun. After I left, they were completely out.
Scary.
That's a really great post, Jan. People are fearful and they want to protect themselves and their families. When you think about it, maybe Americans are harking back to more of an individualist, frontier spirit? And if that continues, and has reverberations across the political system, maybe we'll begin to take this country back.
You should see what's happening with the "tea party" protests at Nice Deb for more along these lines.
Sam..I hear you.
It was at a Walmart Super Center where the irate clerk was, too.
I mentioned to my husband that maybe the guy shouldn't even be in that department, with that kind of attitude.
He said that he was just frustrated, because everything is selling out as soon as they get it, and they have to deal with a lot of angry customers, because they are frustrated, too.
He said all of the Walmart stores are having the same problem.
Donald..thanks!
Yes, the people are fearful, with good cause.
Take the country back? I hope so.
Thanks for the link..it's easy to see from the signs they're caring, that people are getting pretty fed u with what's happening.
You're welcome, Jan.
I'm reading around the web and leftists and some conservatives are attacking Rush Limbaugh's speech. But I'll tell you: That was the clearest thinking I've heard in some time. Maybe conservatives will be in the "wilderness" for a long time. I don't know. But when we come back to power I don't want it to be warmed over Obamessianic political culture with a few tax cuts on the side. We've got to stand and fight for what's great in this country.
Donald..well, of course, the leftists would attack Rush Limbaugh..they hate his guts, and everything he stands for.
As for standing and fighting for what's great in this country, I think that more and more are willing to take that stand.
I've said it many times, before, but I'll say it again: There are a lot of things wrong in this country, it is far from being perfect, but it's still the greatest country in the world.
I hope all the things that are great here, will never be lost.
Jan,
I'm just catching up on reading here. I was aware of the amo shortage..so sneaky! I've been reding and watching so much on the net about O's relentless attack on the American worker and taxpayer I went into decline for a few days. We have to start doing something. Do you know about the plan to offer instant citizenship to illegals? We need to burn up the phone lines to our elected officals, especially Dems with expiring terms.
Linda..I've read so much, about so many issues concerning the stealth tactics of this administration, but I can't recall reading anything about instant citizenship to illegals. Thanks for bringing it to my attention..I will check it out.
I think, maybe, people are becoming more aware, and will, as you say, start doing something!
Jan, that's an outstanding post on a very high profile subject. People are haunting the sporting goods stores and the Walmarts, hoping to be there when a few boxes they can use come in. I think the situation will get worse as time passes.
Hermit..thanks!
That's what I've been hearing from all over--everything more and more difficult to find.
I, too, think the situation will get worse.
Time will tell.
I've been buying extra ammo as I can find it and can afford it. This is certainly something that I have never seen in my lifetime.
Jan,
When I try to tell people about the need to purchase ammunition, they are so blaze' about it - they don't believe our right to bear arms is about to be lost. These are scarey times we live in - but we serve a powerful God. :o)
Carol
Papa Frank..neither have I.
When he talked about 'change' I wonder if this is one of the things he had in mind?
Now..where's the hope? He did mention that, too, didn't he?
Carol..yes, we do.
I know some people don't even realize how close we are to losing many freedoms..not only this one.
I posted the reasons [supplied by the article's link] for 2009 ammo shortage. According to what I read, it's a combination of increased police numbers nationwide and the associated increase in ammo used for training, coupled with the fears of gun owners.
Our president has always supported our right to own guns. Always. What has caused worry to many is that he also recognizes the need for some municipalities to be able to regulate what weapons and what ammo will be legal in their jurisdictions. I think we can agree that a weapon that may be appropriate in Wyoming may not be considered appropriate by the police force in Boston, Ma. I understand the need for some regulation and am not frightened by that. Our police should not have to face better weapons than those that they are carrying.
"Law enforcement agencies have been rapidly increasing their ammunition consumption because of how they are rearming, causing a permanent increase in demand. Just as ammunition manufacturers began to cope with that increase, a second run, based upon a downward-turning economy and rising fears of laws targeting gun and ammunition, dramatically expanded demand yet again.
Shortages of ammunition and firearms can be expected to continue for as long as it appears our overreaching federal government is a threat to our individual liberties, our economy continues to falter, and our police agencies keep militarizing."
I own guns, my children own guns, and the more responsible the rules are associated with the exercise of that right the better off we all are.
It's fear that's driving this shortage, and it is in the economic interest of some to keep the fear stoked. Fear will get you no where. Be vigilant concerning new gun legislation [of which there is none]. Don't hoard. Be neighborly.
Richard
"It's fear that's driving this shortage, and it is in the economic interest of some to keep the fear stoked. Fear will get you no where."
Well, Richard, the present administration is doing a pretty good job of keeping it stoked, wouldn't you say?
Of course, you wouldn't. :)
Haven't been able to find any 9mm for months, especially JHP (personal defense). I suspect that hoarders are mostly to blame, but it seems strange to me that prices keep spiking and supply doesn't change to meet increasing demand.
Dan..I know.
I don't know what the problem might be..but I did see some 9 millimeter in a store today.
Of course, I'm sure it didn't there for long.
Thanks for dropping by my blog.
We went to a gun show recently in hopes to find some ammo. But there was hardly NO bulk Ammo for sale the few cases there was, was very high priced 223 and 308.
There was NO 9mm/38/357/44/45.
I shot competitively and go through at least 2000 rds a month.
I usually reload but lately you cant even find brass and bullets.
The mail order dealers are all out of stock and have been for months.
I mean I could understand an initial run after the election but that was over 7 months ago and still no relief insight.
You would think that by now the scare factor would be easing a bit or that production levels would have been tweaked and starting to catch up.
Joddy..I know..it's getting really hard to find anything, anywhere.
I hear, all the time, from all over, that it is getting more scarce by the day, and some places are limiting the units that a person can purchase.
Who knows how much worse it will get, or what the solution might be.
Thanks for your comments.
I saw it coming before the elections
so I stocked up on .22/.40/.45 and 9mm ammo.(about a 10 year supply).
The gun shows had bulk ammo at the best prices and I purchased .22 ammo in bricks from W-Mart when it was on sale. I store all the ammo in plastic wrap inside a heated gun safe. The ammo should be good for the next 100 years.
Retailers and consumers say there may be several reasons gun stores are running out of ammunition – and the cost of what is available is rising. People are panicking and buying. Manufacturers weren't prepared for this. It boils down to fear. Fear of (liberal) government intrusion and fear for the 2nd amendment right.
The fear of conservative government intrusion just doesn't drive guns sales the same way. The crime rate is high, and they are flat scared of what is going to happen in the next few years with the economy and the country.
FYI - I know a person who works for ATK that supplies most ammo everywhere. http://www.atk.com/
He said it's like the oil prices last year. Ammo speculators are driving up prices, by buying and hoarding ammo which will be flooding the markets again once the US leaves Iraq. Then all ammo prices with huge stock/supply will cause prices to drop by 50% or more.
Anonymous..thanks for dropping by, and for your comments.
Captain Ron...yeah, fear is a terrible thing, and who knows what will happen?
It's something to think about, for sure.
Thanks for dropping by, and for your comments.
On Friday, Sept. 11, the California Assembly passed Assembly Bill 962, by a 44-31 vote.
Among other regulations, AB 962 would:
• Ban all mail-order and Internet sales of handgun ammunition.
• Prohibit the retail sale, the offer for sale or the display of handgun ammunition in a
manner that allows ammunition to be accessible to a purchaser without assistance of a
vendor or employee.
• Require that the delivery or transfer of ownership of handgun ammunition occur in a
face-to-face transaction, with the deliverer or transferor being provided bona fide
evidence of identity of the purchaser or other transferee.
That evidence of identity, which must be legibly recorded at the time of delivery, includes:
• The right thumbprint of the purchaser or transferee.
• The date of the sale or other transaction.
• The purchaser's or transferee's driver's license or other identification number and the
state in which it was issued.
• The brand, type and amount of ammunition sold or otherwise transferred.
• The purchaser's or transferee's signature.
• The name of the salesperson who processed the sale or other transaction.
• The purchaser's or transferee's full residential address and telephone number.
• The purchaser's or transferee's date of birth.
The bill is on the desk of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, where it awaits his consideration. He will have until Oct. 11 to sign or veto the bill. If he does not veto the bill, it will become law.
If you wish to comment on AB 962, you may contact Gov. Schwarzenegger by phone at (916) 445-2841, or via fax at (916) 558-3160. To e-mail Gov. Schwarzenegger, visit
http://gov.ca.gov/interact
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