WSFA 12 News Montgomery, AL |Gun ammunition shortage hikes prices but helps business

Gun ammunition shortage hikes prices but helps business

Posted by: Melissa McKinney - bio | email

MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) - It's been a while since Hal Reinmiller saw boxes of ammunition on his store shelves.

"I've had people call from out of state wanting to know if I've had .380 ammunition in stock," says Hal.

He's the owner of The Arms Outpost on Atlanta Highway and says the shortage started when President Obama was elected.

He says gun owners feared the new administration would tighten gun laws, and increase taxes on ammuntion.  That's bringing more folks in to quickly stock up.

"They started buying a case of ammo or two instead of buying a box or two.  [They're] buying firearms that they probably would have never bought but they decided they better while they could still get one."

And as the demand goes up Hal says the price has too--costing gun owners nearly 80% percent more for a box than it used to.

And he's not the only one noticing the price hike.

Law enforcement officials say they've seen it too. But luckily the shortage and cost hike isn't affecting them.

"We're stocked and we have enough ammunition to make sure that public safety is taken care of in the City of Montgomery," says Huey Thornton with the Montgomery Police Department.

For Hal the shortage is actually helping business especially in troubling economic times.

"I've sold more than I have in the last couple of years. So, it definitely causes people again to get to the point where [they say] 'Hey, I may not be able to have this next week, or next month or whatever, so I want to get it now.'"

There has been talk of reinstating the U.S. ban on assault weapons which expired in 2004.

However, the President has said he respects the 2nd amendment and will protect the rights of hunters and law-abiding citizens to purchase and use guns.

Hal says he believes the shortage is starting to let up.

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